BACON WRAPPED TURTLE MEATLOAF

This was so much fun to make, you can bake it in the oven or on the grill.. One note on the grill the  bacon will cook fast.  

This recipe is in two parts.  

Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground beef, moistened
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 cup ketchup

Note  use BBQ Sweet Baby Ray's instead of ketchup.  The horseradish is up to you.  

Mix well in bowl..

1 pound of a meatloaf mix*
Sliced Cheddar Cheese
Strips of Bacon
Hotdogs or smoked sausage

Cooking spray.  Spray foil 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°f  or grill

Make your meatloaf mix, set aside

Weave bacon strips

Place sliced cheddar cheese on top of the bacon weave

Mold the meatloaf mixture into an oval shape and place on top of the cheese (which is on top of the bacon weave)

Fold the bacon up around the meatloaf and turn the whole thing over so that the ends of the bacon are underneath the conglomeration.

Cut the hotdogs and stick into appropriate spots to be head, tail, and legs. Make two cuts on the ends of each of the "leg" hotdogs..as it bakes the hotdogs will expand and it will look like toes.

Place "turtle" on a broiler rack into a preheated 350°F oven and bake until the internal temperature of the meatloaf section reaches a minimum of 160°f (You can cover the "turtle" with aluminum foil for the first half of baking to minimize the possibility of overcooked toes)

Cook until hamburger meat is done

My Turtle

Character Fruit and Veg Trays

These are to cute. 

And oh so easy.

I think once the kids see them, they will munch out on great food!

Oscar :  Broccoli, baby carrots, and black olives.

Elmo:   Cherry tomatoes, black olives, baby carrots

Cookie Monster: Blue Berries and Black Berries

Bert:  Pineapple chunks, baby carrots for the nose, black olives for the eye brows, black berries for the thin mouth he has. 

Ernie:  Cheese cubes for the face. Black olives or black berries for the eye brows, cherries for the nose and mouth

For the eyes,  Paper cups and ranch dressing with a black olive in each.. 

Arrange to look like character and let the fun begin. 

TURKEY DRESSING AND GRAVY

For all of you gal's out there, that want to cook Thanksgiving dinner,  but have no clue where to start it is not as hard as you think..   Cooking a turkey and all the fixings does not take a 5 star chef. It just takes time and a great recipe.  

THANKSGIVING DINNER

One know now many are coming to dinner. So you do not cook for a king and his court and end up having two people to show up.  Now I have always cooked for 30 plus at Thanksgiving, up until the past few years and still I go all out and cook to much. Our dogs enjoy it, but I hope this year to be able to cook a feast once again. for many friends and family.  

Plan your dishes, many want turkey and many want ham, it is not that hard to just cook both. We have dressing in the south. not stuffing. No do not go and buy stuffing that stuff is well just nasty.  As I said plan your dishes, sit down call everyone ask what they like and do not like, ask if any one is allergenic to any foods. Such as nuts, strawberries, milk, strawberries. Many people do not like certain things..Like me I do not like sage, it is nasty.. But if you do not know, ask.  It is not hard to make a little dish extra with out nuts or what ever the dish calls for that they can not eat.  

Now once you have your list of what you are going to make, this is how I do it. I take each dish write it on a list, and go through the recipe write down the ingredients.  Example canned milk write it down, look through your recipes make a mark for each recipe that calls for it.  That way you know what all and now many you will need. and are not making twenty trips to the store.  Go through your spices make sure they are fresh, if not buy more.  Make sure you have foil you will be using a lot of it for looking and serving.  HAVE PAM COOKING SPRAY YOU WILL NEED IT.  ALSO SLOW COOKERS ARE A GREAT ALSO.

Let's get started..

TURKEY

Get a turkey size for the amount of people you are serving do not get a 22lb turkey for 3 people.  You can even get a turkey breast if everyone likes white meat only.  

Get your turkey days before, I always take mine out and sit it in the sink for a day.  Like on that Tuesday.  

Then place it in the fridge until Thursday, or Wed night

Now if you want to cook your turkey the night before that is fine.  If so pre heat your oven to 350 do this around 4am.  Get your turkey out the fridge, wash it. TAKE ALL THE GIBLETS AND NECK OUT. I always cook my turkey in a baking turkey bag.  It will not be dry and gives you more juice.  After you wash it, rub a little butter on the breast only.. season your bird.  Salt, pepper, parsley, poultry season, it is up to you.. I mix mine in a bowl and then rub it in.  Peel an onion place it inside your turkey. it keeps it from drying out.  

I place a little bit of chicken broth in the bag, and I make sure I flour the bad so it will not stick.  Place your turkey in the oven and turn it down to 200* let it cook until the popper, pops.  Keep it covered.

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DRESSING and GRAVY

For your dressing you will need..

• Adluh Self Rising Yellow Corn Meal.
• Chicken Broth 
• The juice from your turkey
• Poultry Season
• Onions Chopped small
• salt./ pepper
• Milk
• eggs
• Pan stray 
• butter

 Mix corn meal, eggs, butter, milk   bake. I bake mine in a cask iron skillet.. Make sure you spray your pan.

One it is baked let it cool for a while, in a very big bowl. Crumble corn bread, in bowl add chopped onions, add chicken broth and a little bit of the juice from the turkey.  Add salt, pepper and poultry season. Mix well.  It should not be over soupy but just a tad..  Cover and bake. It will be moist.

Gravy 

• Juice from turkey
• Chicken Broth
• Boiled eggs  chopped
• Chicken livers  Boiled and chopped 
• Chicken gizzards  Boiled and chopped
• DO NOT BOIL MEATS TOGETHER.  
• Corn starch or flour mix with a little bit of water stir
• salt pepper.
• 
  

In a large pot  add  juice from turkey and chicken broth

simmer add boiled  meats.  simmer

add eggs simmer

bring to hard boil and add cornstarch or flour this will thicken the gravy.

Turn down and simmer.  

And that is it.. 

Chicken Fried Steak with Diced Potato Gravy

 Chicken Fried Steak with Diced Potato Grav

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds cube steak, cut into individual steaks
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
Vegetable oil, for frying
Diced Potato Gravy, recipe follows


Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the steaks, stir to coat, and let sit 10 minutes. In a paper bag, combine the flour, cornstarch, a few pinches of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Remove the steaks from egg mixture and put into the paper bag. Roll the top of the bag to close, and shake until the steaks are evenly coated. This may be done in batches. Let the coated steak rest on a sheet tray lined with a rack for 10 minutes.


In a deep, heavy-bottomed skillet add enough oil to reach 1/2-inch up the sides. Heat the oil over medium heat to 370 degrees F. (When a wooden spoon inserted into the oil creates tiny bubbles, the oil is ready.) Fry the steaks, in batches if necessary, flipping only once when color is golden and a poke releases no red juices, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Remove to a serving platter and serve with Diced Potato Gravy.


Diced Potato Gravy:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 bay leaf
2 1/2 cups beef broth
1 large russet potato, diced into 1/4-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup roughly chopped parsley, for garnish
In a large straight-sided skillet heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the flour, stirring to combine with the butter. Add the bay leaf and broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, then add the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are tender and the gravy has thickened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and the parsley.

7 - UP CAKE

                                          CAKE






THIS CAKE IS OH SO GREAT. BUT THEN AGAIN WHAT CAKE ISN'T.......




3 sticks of        Breakstone butter
3 cups  of         Sugar
3 cups  of         Swans Down Cake Flour
5 room temp  eggs
3/4 cups of       7-UP
2. Teaspoon      lemon extract


Pre heat oven 350*  ONE IT IS HEATED TURN DOWN TO 250*
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Blend butter and sugar for 20 minutes
Add 1 egg at a time until folded in
Fold in a little flour until you have it all in 
Add lemon extract
Add 7-Up little at a time 
Put in a 12-cup bundt cake pan that is well greased
Bake


1 Hour and 45 minutes






Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice 

1-2 tbsp. milk

You can use fresh lemon zest for more flavor

Drizzle frosting over cake.  

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LAZY 7 UP CAKE

 Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 small box (4 oz.) instant lemon pudding

1 1/2 cups 7 Up (or similar lemon lime soda)

4 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

icing:

2 cups confectioners sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice 

1-2 tbsp. milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325F degrees

Spray your 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.

I like to use the spray that has flour in it, it's called Baker's Joy.

45-55 minutes

USE FROSTING RECIPE 

Spice Substitutions

Spice Substitutions
Allspice	Cinnamon; cassia; dash of nutmeg or mace; or dash of cloves
Aniseed	Fennel seed or a few drops anise extract
Cardamom	Ginger
Chili Powder	Dash bottled hot pepper sauce plus a combination of oregano and cumin
Cinnamon	Nutmeg or allspice (use only 1/4 of the amount)
Cloves	Allspice; cinnamon; or nutmeg
Cumin	Chili powder
Ginger	Allspice; cinnamon; mace; or nutmeg
Mace	Allspice; cinnamon; ginger; or nutmeg
Nutmeg	Cinnamon; ginger; or mace
Saffron	Dash turmeric (for color)

HERB SUBSTITUTIONS

Herb Substitutions
Basil	Oregano or thyme
Chervil	Tarragon or parsley
Chive	Green onion; onion; or leek
Cilantro	Parsley
Italian Seasoning	Blend of any of these: basil, oregano, rosemary, and ground red pepper
Marjoram	Basil; thyme; or savory
Mint	Basil; marjoram; or rosemary
Oregano	Thyme or basil
Parsley	Chervil or cilantro
Poultry Seasoning	Sage plus a blend of any of these: thyme, marjoram, savory, black pepper, and rosemary
Red Pepper	Dash bottled hot pepper sauce or black pepper
Rosemary	Thyme; tarragon; or savory
Sage	Poultry seasoning; savory; marjoram; or rosemary
Savory	Thyme; marjoram; or sage
Tarragon	Chervil; dash fennel seed; or dash aniseed
Thyme	Basil; marjoram; oregano; or savory

LEMON FREEZE

My friend  Karma sent this to me, can not wait to try it.  

Karma and her  hubby Keith 

Lemon Freeze          

 You will need......

1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust,

 1 container of cool whip

1 can of sweetened-condensed milk

 and lemon juice

 In a bowl

combine cool whip and sweetened-condensed milk.

 Stir until mixed

 Add lemon juice to taste. (Just remember that the lemon will intensify in the 

freezer

 Stir again until mixed

 Pour into graham cracker crust.

 Put into freezer until set.

 NOT totally frozen!

Tips to make cooking easy

I know I talk about my Mammy (Duke) Hiott Hamilton a lot, but she was my rock. I would watch her for hours do different things.  She was a master cook, she taught me to crochet and made amazing things. Crossword puzzles and reading.  It does not sound like much but to me it was the world.  She would give me tips, on cooking, crocheting, this and that.. Here are some tips she give me over the years I would write them down and still to this day use them..

• When you stew chicken let it cool in the broth (or liquor as she called it) before cutting  it will have much more flavor.
• Roasting a chicken or turkey want it to be all pretty and golden brown, rub some mayo on the skin
• When you buy a roast, buy one with a bone, the bone gives it way more flavor and cooks faster
• Speaking of roast do not cook it cool right out the fridge, let it sit out for an hour, brush it with oil before baking and during the oil seals the juice in.
• Want a juicy burger.. add some water to the meat. 
• Cauliflower (yuck) but anyway want it to say white during cooking, add some milk to the water
• Never add salt when boiling corn rather on the cob or off, add SUGAR. Salt makes it tough 
• Love cabbage but hate the smell when cooking?  Place some vinegar in a cup on the stove, it will absorb the smell
• Want crisper potatoes when frying peel and soak them  in water before cooking., for about an hour

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• Vegetables.... this was one I always had to really remember.. Vegetables that grow under ground when cooking put them in cold water and bring it to boil.   The ones that grow above ground put them in water that is boiling..
• Ever oversalt gravy?  stir in some instant mash potatoes in, just add a little more milk or water.. 
• Hate when celery gets all limp in the fridge.. put it in water in the fridge, in a pitcher stand it up
• Do no wash lettuce before putting it in the fridge
• When mixing or serving salads use a glass bowl or wooden never metal..
• Baking Soda in your dishwasher will kill the odors and clean it
• Got a scratch on your wooden furniture?   Instant coffee.. make a paste and rub it on the scratch 
• Your homemade biscuits dry, it is from either the oven not hot enough or you kneed it to much
• Remember if you are not sure about if a egg is good, place it in a deep bowl of water if it FLOATS DO NOT USE..
• Slightly Sour milk ?  Put a pinch of soda in it, it is now fresh
• Love bacon or fatback .. hate the splatter?  Place some salt or flour in the pan before frying
• Do not use a fork to turn meat.. use tongs
• Thicken your soups or stews instant mash potatoes 
•  Boiling Potatoes.. add lemon juice to the water.  keeps them white
• Lemon juice to hand after you cut onions

Hawaiian Pie

HAWAII......                 &                            PIE......

Two of a girls favorite things. okay diamonds and money and a maid, but all we got right now is pie!

Hawaiian Pie

1-lb box  of vanilla wafers

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 can crushed pineapple drained

1 tub cool whip

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• Crush wafers divide into 3 parts
• Use 1/3 in a buttered pie pan
• Blend butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla beat until fluffy.
• Pour over wafers in pie pan
• Sprinkle 1/3 of the crumbs over fluff
• Fluff cool whip fold in pineapple
• Spread over crumbs
• Place the rest of the crumbs over top
• place Maraschino Cherries on top

Chill and serve

Pistachio Pineapple Delight

Ever go to a buffet and hit the dessert bar, and you have to get that green cool whip looking stuff. You love it but have no idea what it is called, or how it is made.  You know it has cool whip, marshmallows and nuts but how did it turn green?   Well here are the answers..

Watergate Salad , I know what a name, but it is also called Pistachio Delight,

Kraft invented it in 1975, they named it Pistachio Pineapple Delight

 A  Chicago food editor renamed it Watergate Salad to promote interest. 

CALL IT WHAT YOU LIKE

PISTACHIO DELIGHT

WATERGATE SALAD

PISTACHIO PINEAPPLE DELIGHT

1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix

• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, with juice
• 
  
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• 
  
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

• 1/2 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a large bowl, mix together pudding mix, pineapple with juice, marshmallows, and nuts. Fold in whipped topping. Chill.

Aunt Ann's Pork Chops and Sour Cream

I collect recipes, I love to cook and come from a long line of cooks.  


My Aunt Ann, was an amazing. wonderful, talented woman. Her words were wise, and strong and meaningful.  She would listen to you , let you plead your case, state your facts, still our your heart or your guts. And when you were finished, and only when you were finished she would give it to you. Rather it was the cold hard truth, a good chewing out or a hug.  You might not always agree with her words right at that moment but sooner or later and most of the time it was sooner, you would realize she was right.  Her answers always seemed to be the answer you needed to hear not wanted to hear.  Aunt Ann was a great cook, not sure if it was Mammy that taught her, or Nanny Leland or she just like me started cooking, threw this in that in if it worked fine, if not start all over.  There were so many dishes she cooked that I remember, so many that I wish I would had got the recipes for.  Two of my favorites were.. Sour Cream Pork Chops and her Black Forest Cake.  







Salt and Pepper
Sage Rubbed
Pork Chops
 2 cans of Beef Consomme 
2lbs of thinly sliced onions
1 pint of Sour Cream
Rice
3 TBSP flour

Slightly salt and pepper and sage pork chops both sides.  Rub into chops well
Fry in deep pot until partly or 2/3 cooked, remove from heat in the same pot 
Add the 2 cans of consomme , onions. Bring to boil for 5 minutes, add pork chops to soup and onions. 
Cook until chops begin to leave the bone. Remove chops 
In a small bowl add the 1 pint of sour cream, and 3 TBSP of flour  mix well together 
add mixture to soup whipping well until creamy. 
Add chops and let simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 




Serve with rice or mashed potatoes. 

BAKED POTATO SKINS

Baked Potato Skins


These are so good! I think just as good as any restaurant.  You can add to it and make it your own!

How many you make depends on how many people you are serving.  

This will make 8 skins.  

1. 4 large baking potatoes ( DO NOT PEEL)  Bake potatoes until they are done. 
2. 3 tablespoons Vegetable oil
3. 1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 
6. 1/4 teaspoon Paprika
7. 1/8 teaspoon pepper
8. Bacon fried crisp and crumbled
9. Grated Cheddar Cheese
10. Sour Cream
11. Green Onions Sliced very thin

Take baked potatoes and cut in half, scoop out leaving 1/4 full.

Mix oil, salt, garlic powder, pepper, Paprika in bowl.  Mix

Brush mixture on the skins of potatoes. Place on sprayed cookie sheet. 

Bake for 7 minutes

Take out of oven, add bacon, and cheese.  Bake again until cheese melts and is gooey. About 2 to 3 minutes

Remove from oven, add toppings

Sour Cream 

Onions

Extra bacon

Salsa

TACO CASSEROLE

The kids will love it.. it's a TACO 

TACO CASSEROLE

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350*

• 1 - 1/2 LBS OF HAMBURGER MEAT BROWNED AND DRAINED
• 1 CAN BEAN DIP OR REFRIED BEANS 
• 1 SMALL CAN OF GREEN CHILLIES DICED AND DRAINED
• 1 (8oz) JAR MILD TACO SAUCE 
• 12 oz  PACKAGE MONTEREY JACK CHEESE GRATED
• can use what ever kind of cheese you like.. 

Extras if desired 

Sour Cream

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Onions

Bell Peppers 

Taco Sauce or Salsa

Black Olives

Guacamole 

Combine all ingredients except cheese. pour into casserole dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is bubbly and starts to brown around the edges. 

Serve with extras and tortilla Chips.  

Eat me I'm a TACO!

BREAKFAST PIZZA

Need something different for breakfast?  How about 

pizza!  

Breakfast Pizza

1 can of Crescent Rolls

6-7 eggs 

1 package of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 package of ground sausage cooked  drained and crumbled 

1 cup grated cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Pre  heat oven to 375*

In a pizza pan spread crescent rolls dough in pizza pan, pressing  dough all around covering pan.

Beat eggs in bowl with salt and pepper, add bacon, sausage and cheese. Pour over dough. 

Bake at 375* for 12-15 minutes.  

Serve like you would a pizza.

COBBLER

                                   BLUEBERRIES

PEACHES

                          APPLES

COBBLER

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A HOMEMADE COBBLER 

WHEN YOU ADD SOUTH CAROLINA PEACHES IN ONE, THAT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER.  

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FRUIT IS, A GOOD COBBLER WITH SOME VANILLA ICE CREAM, IS GREAT..

1 cup milk

1 stick butter 

1 1/2 cups of self rising flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Pick your fruit, it can be fresh or frozen

even canned.  

Apple, Peaches, Blueberries even Pears, 

Blackberries or Raspberries

Pre Heat oven to 350 

In baking dish put stick of butter place in oven and melt.

Mix all dry ingredients together.  
Add milk, and vanilla
Mix well
Add fruit very lightly mix so fruit does not get mussy or fall apart. 
Pour into dish over melted butter, butter will rise over the batter. 

Bake for 1 hour. 

Serve warm and with ice cream