Fried Brussel Sprouts

Like fried cabbage? Then you are in for a treat. This is easy and most kids are actually surprised that it tastes better than it looks! I add about 2 tablespoons sugar simply to soften the taste and make my kids happy. But it is delicious without the sugar, and when I leave it out, I don't tell them and they never say a word!"

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 (12 ounce) package fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced
• 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste (optional)
• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place bacon pieces in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels, leaving grease in the skillet.
2. Cook onion in the bacon grease in the skillet until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and toss to coat in the bacon grease. Cook and stir until browned and tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in sugar, salt, and black pepper; sprinkle in bacon pieces.

Chai-Spiced Pound Cake

Featuring our newest blend of aromatic baking spices, this perfectly tender cake mimics the flavors of a cup of ever-popular chai tea. Just lightly sweetened with both brown sugar and honey, it's an ideal treat for a cold autumn afternoon.

Notes for others:  bake in a bundt pan as the recipe calls for.  50 minutes may be too long.

Ingredients

• 16 tablespoons (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons chai spice; or 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ginger, 2 teaspoons cardamom, 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon clove, and 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• 2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1 cup sour cream or yogurt, full-fat preferred
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and honey until smooth and somewhat lightened in color; this will take about 2 minutes at medium speed of an electric hand or stand mixer.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for a minute or two and scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl between additions.
4. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chai spice blend (or spices).
5. Measure the flour by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Gently but thoroughly stir half the flour into the butter/egg mixture. Add the sour cream (or yogurt) and vanilla, stirring to combine. Finally, stir in the remaining flour. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat briefly, to incorporate any sticky residue.
6. Thoroughly grease a 9- or 10-cup Bundt pan. Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, until a cake tester, bamboo skewer, or long toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Remove the cake from the oven, and cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a rack to finish cooling.
8. Cool completely before slicing. Store any leftovers, tightly wrapped in plastic, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Chicken Fajitas

4 Chicken Fajita Twists

Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chuck Roast Recipe

My notes:  Bill really liked this.  I made it with a london broil and added noodles to the crock pot in the last half hour.  I think it would be better with mashed potatoes.  Very spicy, cut down a little on the crushed peppers, they seem to strengthen in the crock pot.

My husband and I like well-seasoned foods, so this slow-cooked recipe is terrific. You'll also love how flavorful and tender this comforting roast turns out. —Bette McCumber, Schenectady, New York

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Cook: 5 hours YIELD:6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 large onion, halved and sliced
• 1 medium green pepper, halved and sliced
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1 boneless beef chuck roast (2 to 3 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water

Directions

• 1. Mix first10 ingredients. Place onion, green pepper and celery in a 5-qt. slow cooker; place roast over top. Pour tomato mixture over roast. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 5-6 hours.
• 2. Remove roast. Strain cooking juices, reserving vegetables. Transfer juices to a small saucepan; skim fat. Mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Serve roast and vegetables with gravy.
  Freeze option: Place sliced beef and vegetables in freezer containers; top with gravy. Cool and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through slowly in a covered saucepan, stirring gently and adding a little broth or water if necessary. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutritional Facts

4 ounces cooked beef with 1/3 cup gravy: 362 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 880mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein.

© 2017 RDA E

No-Peek Chicken

Ingredients
1 box Uncle Ben’s Long Grain Wild Rice (original recipe)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can water
(You can add another can of water for moister rice.)
chicken breasts or tenders

Instructions
In a greased 9 x 13 pan, mix the box of rice, cans of celery and mushroom soup and
one can of water.  I always add the extra can of water because I like moist rice.
Arrange the raw chicken on top of the rice mixture….
Cover and seal with foil……
Bake at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 hours and “Don’t Peek!”

Quick Tip: Set your oven to about 215 degrees and allow this chicken bake to cook while you are at church or gone for the day.

Bacon-Lovers' Potato Salad

Bacon-Lovers' Potato Salad

Serves 6 to 8

2 1/2 pounds red potatoes
6 ounces thick-cut bacon slices (6 to 7 slices), diced
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Halve the potatoes (quarter if large), then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place in a large saucepan of heavily salted water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes are knife-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the bacon and make the dressing.
Place the bacon in a medium frying pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Measure out 1/4 cup of the bacon fat and place in a large heatproof bowl.
Add the vinegar, mustard, scallions, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the bacon fat, season with pepper, and whisk to combine; set aside until the potatoes are ready.
Drain the potatoes well, immediately add to the bowl of dressing, and gently toss with a rubber spatula to combine. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed (the potatoes will probably need a lot of salt). Set aside to cool slightly and for the flavors to meld, about 20 minutes. Add the parsley and reserved bacon and toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

• Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Cheeseburger Tots

Daniel Batchelder

This is why I love having kids who love the cook and experiment. Tonight my "Middlest" Kirstin and I made something that I saw online. Tater tot cheeseburger sliders. Five tater tot's per section in a muffin tin, fully defrosted and smashed into the bottom. I used the bottom of a Sam Adams beer glass which is a little narrower. Bake in the oven at 425 for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Cook the ground beef with whatever spices onions, etc. that you want. A little shredded cheese, then the burger, then more cheese on top. Bake in the oven for five more minutes. We decided to drizzle Ketchup on top, they were so amazing!

Prep time 20 mins

Cook time 35 mins

Total time 55 mins

These Cheeseburger tots are tater tot bites filled with hamburger, cheese, pickles, and a special sauce.

Author: Kat Jeter & Melinda Caldwell

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 16

Ingredients

Cheeseburger Tots

• 48 Tater Tots, frozen
• 1 lb. Ground Beef
• ½ c. Onion, finely diced
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. Mustard
• 2 Tbsp. Ketchup
• 2 Tbsp. Pickle Relish
• 1 c. Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• Note: You can use more or less of any of these condiments according to your taste!
• Mini Pickles for garnish

Special Sauce

• ½ c. Mayonnaise
• 4 Tbsp. Pickle relish
• 2 Tbsp. Yellow mustard
• 1 tsp. White wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• 1 tsp. Onion powder
• 1 tsp. Garlic powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium high heat. Once meat has browned drain the grease then add beef and onions back to the skillet and cook until softened.
3. Add mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and pickle relish to the ground beef and stir to combine. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Grease a mini muffin pan and place three tater tots in each cup. Bake for 10 minutes.
5. After 10 minutes remove the muffin pan from the oven and use a tamper to press the tater tots down into each cup. This will create a tater tot cup.
6. Fill the tater tots with the ground beef mixture and top with cheddar cheese.
7. Place the tater tots back in the oven and cook for another 15 minutes.
8. Remove the cheeseburger tots from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes before removing them from the muffin pan.
9. While the cheeseburger tots cool mix together all of the special sauce ingredients.
10. Drizzle the special sauce over the cheeseburger tots and top with mini pickle slices.
11. Enjoy!