Orange Jello

Mom's Thanksgiving Tradition

2 small pkg orange gelatin
2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup cold water
6 ounces orange juice concentrate
1 can mandarin oranges, well drained

1 pkg. instant lemon pudding
1/2 small container cool whip
Parmesan cheese, if desired

Directions:
1 - Mix gelatin with 2 cups boiling water; dissolve completely.
2 - Combine 3/4 cup cold water with 6 oz. orange juice concentrate. Add to gelatin mixture. Chill until semi-set.
3 - Add mandarin oranges. Chill until set.
4 - Mix lemon pudding according to pkg. directions. When set fold in cool whip. Spread on gelatin mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
5 - Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with mandarin oranges.
6 - Chill until ready to serve.

Rich Zucchini Bread

I get requests for this recipe all the time - so I thought I'd share it.

3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil + 1/2 cup applesauce)
3 tsp. vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1 cup nuts (optional)

Directions:
1 - In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Mix in oil (and applesauce) and vanilla. Mix in zucchini.
2 - In smaller bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
3 - Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients in large bowl. Add nuts if desired.

Pour and Bake at 350 degrees:
2 large loaf pans - 1 hour
standard muffins - 18 minutes
mini muffins - 12 minutes

Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan.
Freezes well.

Variations I have tried:
- increase zucchini to 3 cups
- substitute mashed sweet potatoes for zucchini
- substitute grated apples for zucchini (or 1/2 and 1/2)
- add 1/4 cup (or more) of wheat germ
- decrease total oil to 3/4 cup (a bit dry but healthier)
- substitute ginger for cloves

Request - peach cobbler

Marilee,

This is an official request for the peach cobbler you made for graduation. It was good and surprisingly quick. Two key ingredients in my cooking.

Quick Rise Dough

This is a recipe I use all the time for pizza dough, hot pockets, calzones, bread sticks, and quick rolls (the rolls aren't very fluffy though, just quick).

4 cups flour (divided)
4 1/2 tsp. quick rise yeast
2 tsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups water
3 TBS olive oil (or veg. oil)

Directions:
1 - Combine 3 cups flour, yeast, brown sugar, and salt in large bowl.
2 - Heat water to 120 degrees (I pop it in the microwave for 1 minute - NOT to boiling). Add oil to water.
3 - Add the oil/water mixture to flour mixture.
4 - Stir in enough flour to make a soft dough (at least 1 cup).
5 - Knead until smooth (4 minutes)
6 - Cover and rise 15 minutes

Shape and Bake at 375 degrees:
20 minutes rolls
25-30 minutes calzones / hot pockets
18-20 minutes bread sticks

For Pizza: Roll out and top with favorite toppings. Bake 10 minutes until cheese melted.

Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef or sirloin
  
• ½ cup onion thinly sliced
  
• 1 clove garlic minced
  
• 1 Tbsp basil
  
• ¾ tsp salt
  
• 1 can diced tomatoes
  
• 2 (6 oz) cans tomato paste
  
• 10 oz lasagna noodles cooked and drained
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 3 cups cream-style cottage cheese
  
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  
• 2 Tbsp parsley
  
• ½ tsp salt
  
• ½ tsp pepper
  
• 1 pound mozzarella sliced thin
  

 

Directions:

1. Brown the beef then drain. Add the garlic and onion and sauté.
2.  Then combine basil, salt, tomatoes, and tomato paste to the beef. Cook on low until bubbly. 
3. Meanwhile add the eggs, cottage cheese, parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and half the cheese in a bowl. 
4. Once the sauce is bubbly 1/2noodles, 1/2cottage cheese mixture, 1/2left over cheese and 1/2sauce and then repeat with remaining. 
5. Cover pan with foil and cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 This is my mom’s lasagna and is by far my favorite recipe!

 

Easy Pork Chops

Pork chops with sour cream 

Ingredients:

• 6 pork chops, about 1/2 inch thick
• salt and pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 bay leaf
• 3/4 cup chicken broth or bouillon
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
•  

Preparation:

Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. Sauté onion in butter until soft and golden; add minced garlic. Transfer to a bowl; set aside. Add pork chops to skillet; brown on all sides. Pour off excess fat, lower heat, then add cooked onions and garlic, bay leaf, and chicken broth to skillet with chops. Cover and cook over low heat for about 1 hour. Transfer chops to a hot serving platter; keep hot. Cook pan juices over high heat until reduced to about half. Lower heat and add sour cream and paprika. Stirring constantly, cook until heated through, but do not boil. Pour over chops. Serves 4 to 6.

Banana Dessert

Ingredients:

• 2 boxes Vanilla Wafers
  
• 1/4 cup margarine 
  
• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 container cool whip
  
• 6-8 bananas
  
• 1 tsp vanilla
  

Directions:

1. Crush both boxes of wafers and spread half on the bottom of desired pan.
2. Cream together soft (NOT MELTED) margarine and powdered sugar until nice and smooth. KEY-- do not let the butter get to room temperature... just soft enough to mix!
3. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. 
4. Add vanilla
5. Spread the cream mixture over the crumbs
6. Layer sliced bananas
7. Spread cool whip
8. Add last 1/2 of crushed wafers
9. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Thanks so much Cindy for getting us our First official Recipe for the Family! I think almost everyone loves this and always has to call mom for the directions!