Candied Pecans

Barbara Creer

2 lb pecans ( I did half pecans and half almonds, can use some mixed nuts)

Preheat oven 250 degrees.

1st bowl:
1 egg white
2 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla

2nd bowl:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Evenly coat in first bowl and quickly toss in second bowl.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour stirring every 15 mintues.
It will be a couple nuts thick on the baking sheet.

Sloppy Joes

From The Pioneer Woman

Prep: 10 Minutes	Level: Easy
Cook: 20 Minutes	Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2-1/2 pounds Ground Beef
• 1/2 whole Large Onion, Diced
• 1 whole Large Green Bell Pepper, Diced
• 5 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1-1/2 cup Ketchup
• 1 cup Water
• 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder (more To Taste)
• 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (more To Taste)
• Worcestershire Sauce, To Taste
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (optional)
• Tabasco Sauce (optional; To Taste)
• Salt To Taste
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• Kaiser Rolls
• Butter

Preparation

Add butter to a large skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain most of the fat and discard.

Add onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, or until vegetables begin to get soft. 

Add ketchup, brown sugar, chili pepper, dry mustard, and water. Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. Also add tomato paste, Worcestershire, and Tabasco if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 

Spread rolls with butter and brown on a griddle or skillet. Spoon meat mixture over the rolls, topping with a slice of cheese if it makes your skirt fly up. Serve hot with kettle cooked chips!

Southwest Chicken

4 chicken breasts

2 cups salsa

2 cups water

4 cups minute rice

2 cups black beans, drained

Cheddar cheese

Sour cream

Bring to a boil, chicken, salsa, and water in a frying pan.  Cover.  Simmer for 15 minutes, return to a boil, and add rice and black beans.  Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese.  Cover and cook another 5 minutes.  Top with sour cream.

Pork Chops with Spaghetti

Barbara - From the Colorado Cache cookbook

3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp rosemary
4 pork chops, 1 inch thick
2 cups chopped tomatoes
3 tbsp minced parsley
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 lb spaghetti
4 tbsp butter
4 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Melt butter with olive oil in a large heavy skillet.  Add garlic, pepper and red pepper.  Sprinkle rosemary on pork chops then brown chops slowly in the skillet.  Add tomatoes, parsley and salt.  Cover and cook slowly for 20 minutes.  Uncover and cook an additional 20 minutes or until tender.  Cook the spaghetti, drain and toss with butter and Parmesan.  Add 1/2 cup sauce to the spaghetti.  Place spaghetti on a hot platter, arrange the chops on the spaghetti and pour sauce over all.

Gary’s Sourdough Pancakes

Barbara Creer

Basic Batter – Set the batter the evening before you want pancakes for breakfast.  Put 1 cup sourdough starter in large mixing bowl.  (Pottery or glass) Add 2 cups warm water and 2 ½ cups four.  Mixture will be lumpy, but will thin down from fermenting.  Cover set in warm place overnight.

Sourdough Pancakes – put 1 or 2 cups of starter back in crock.  

To the remaining batter in the bowl add: 

1 egg (stirred well)

2 Tbsp cooking oil

¼ cup evaporated milk

(Beat all of this thoroughly)

Then Combine: 

1 tsp salt, 

1 tsp baking soda, 

2 Tbsp sugar

Blend well eliminating any lumps –

Sprinkle evenly over top of batter, fold gently.  This will cause a gentle foaming, rising action.  Allow batter to rest  5 to 10 minutes, then fry on a hot lightly greased griddle.  

400 Degrees.  Make them Silver Dollar sized.

Extra Creamy Key Lime Pie

Barbara Creer - We have been on a quest to mimic Princess Cruises Key Lime Pie.
This is our favorite so far.  Mike said to stop trying we are there.

Modified from King Arthur Flour Website

   1 graham cracker pie crust

   1 cup cream cheese, softened

• 1 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 cup Key lime juice
• 1 cup sour cream
• zest of one lime
• juice of one lime

Directions:

Prepare a graham cracker pie crust

To make the filling: In a medium-sized bowl, 
beat the cream cheese until soft. 
Add the condensed milk and beat until well-blended.

Stir in the Key lime juice, 
Add the sour cream, mixing until smooth.

Pour the filling into the cooled crust and 
refrigerate the pie for at least 2 hours before serving.

Store the pie in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Overnight Oats = The Easiest Weight-Loss Breakfast Ever

Maryjane Melis  from the website Pop Sugar 

https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Overnight-Oats-Recipe-34698639/amp

NOTES

I'm a big fan of So Delicious's unsweetened coconut milk in this recipe, but any nut or cow's milk will do the job. Just be sure to stick with the 1:1 ratio.

I topped off this jar with blackberries, raspberries, a few slivered almonds, and a slight drizzle of maple syrup, but feel free to get creative with your favorites. This recipe is incredibly versatile.

INGREDIENTS

1. 1/2 cup rolled oats
2. 1/2 cup coconut milk
3. 1 tablespoon chia seeds
4. 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
5. 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
6. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a glass jar. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
2. The next morning, remove from the fridge, top off with your favorite fresh fruit, and enjoy!