i have to say...

the recipe box swap

Welcome to May's Recipe Box Swap!   This month's theme is no-theme at all, meaning you get to post any recipe that suits your fancy!

If you would like to join in, simply post your favorite recipe on your own blog and then add the  post URL to the auto-link at the bottom of this post.  That makes it easy for people to find you and your yummy recipe!

My family loves pancakes and I love berry syrup.  When I found blackberries on sale this week for $1.00 per container I decided to see if I could make syrup.  It worked and it tasted great!  My only regret is that when I went back to buy tons more of the berries, the sale was over.   I was a bit crushed!  Next time I will buy extra so that I can freeze them for syrup-making.
Super Yummy Pancakes
(The pancake recipe was inspired by one found on this website.)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 C. buttermilk
4 T. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla
2 C. flour
2 t. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

Preheat griddle. Melt butter and set aside to cool. In a small bowl, mix eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients. Add melted butter and mix just until blended. Do not over mix.

Using a large spoon or ladle, pour batter onto buttered griddle.  Flip once, when pancake begins to brown. Serve warm with syrup.

Serves: 4 to 6.

Berry Sauce/Syrup
Two 10-oz containers of fresh berries (I used blackberries)
Sugar to taste

Place berries in a saucepan and sprinkle with sugar (start with 1/4 to 1/2 cup).  Let sit for about 20 minutes until you see that the berries are starting to get juicy.  Turn heat on to medium-high until the berries start to boil.  Adjust the heat so that the berries continue to boil and let them cook for about 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens (stir frequently).  Mash berries with a masher or a fork.  Serve warm over pancakes or ice cream. 

Your family will love this in the morning! 

Happy cooking!

the recipe box swap---on thursday

It is that time again!  The Recipe Box Swap is this Thursday, May 7th.  This time the theme is, well, no theme at all!  This means that you get to post anything you want to post.  If you are craving it, post it!

On Thursday I will be posting a favorite recipe here on my blog and I invite you to do the same on your blog. I will provide an auto-link at the bottom of my post so that you can leave your post URL and others can visit and see what you have cookin'.

The code for the graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

Everyone is invited!

I hope to see you on Thurday!

the recipe box swap

Welcome to April's Recipe Box Swap!  Today it is all about PASTA!

If you would like to join in, simply post your favorite pasta recipe on your own blog and then add the  post URL to the auto-link at the bottom of this post.  That makes it easy for people to find you and your yummy recipe!

We eat lots of pasta here in our house.  It is inexpensive, easy to prepare and kids love it. 

A number of years ago I stopped by a friend's house and she was busy cooking dinner. Since it smelled and looked so good I copied her recipe and made it that night.   It is now one of our favorites and the best part is that it is simple to make.

Sausage and Peppers
***The original recipe only calls for the peppers, but I like to add the mushrooms and onions

One 16 oz. package thin spaghetti (I use whole wheat)
12 oz. Italian Sausage (I use turkey sausage)
3 medium peppers--two red, one green
1/2 onion, sliced
8 oz. package mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
a sprinkling of oregano
a small amount of oil
parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.  Add a couple of tablespoons to a large skillet and cook the sausages until almost done (10-15 minutes) over medium-high heat.  Add the veggies.  Cook until the veggies start to soften just a little bit.  Add the broth, salt, pepper and oregano and cook for 5 minutes.  Serve the veggies and sausage over the pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Happy eating!

the recipe box swap---on thursday

This Thursday, April 2nd, is the Recipe Swap and my crafty friend, Anna, has been nice enough to pick the theme:  Pasta!  Whether you call them noodles, macaroni or pasta, I know we all make a lot of this stuff and it is just plain good.

If you would like to join in on Thursday, pick your best pasta recipe and post it on your own blog.  Then add your post URL to the auto-link that will be at the bottom of my post.  That way people can visit and see what you have cookin' over at your place.

The recipes shared here each week have are wonderful and you are sure to find something that you love.

The code for the graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

I hope to see you on Thursday!

recipe box swap

Welcome to The Recipe Box Swap!  The month is a no-theme month, meaning you can post your favorite recipe--anything goes!  Simply post it on your own blog and then add your post URL to the auto-link at the bottom of this post.  I have found some of the best recipes from the swap and I am so happy to have added some new family favorites to our recipe box!

This month I am sharing the recipe for Lemon Bread:

I love this stuff! So lemony and sweet. 

Lemon Bread

1-3/4 cups flour
3/4 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 tsp. shredded lemon peel
1 TB. lemon juice
2 TB. lemon juice
1 TB. sugar

Stir together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt.  In another bowl combine the egg, milk, oil, and 1 TB. lemon juice.  Add the egg mixture to the dry mixture and stir until combined.  Add the shredded lemon peel and stir.

Pour batter into greased 8X4X2 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean.

While the bread is baking, stir the 2 TB. lemon juice and 1 TB. sugar together.  Sugar should be dissolved before brushing on the bread.

When the bread is done, brush the lemon juice mixture on the bread (it will seem like a lot, but go ahead and use it all).  Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove.  Cool completely on a wire rack.

Wrap the bread and wait a few hours to eat.  The flavor gets better as it sits.

Enjoy!

the recipe box swap---on thursday

Thanks to Jan I remembered that there is a Recipe Box Swap this Thursday. Yeah! If you don't know this about me already, I will let you know that I am terribly forgetful. If it is not on my calendar or my list, it is out of my head. Reminders are great!

This month is a No-Theme Month meaning that anything goes. Any recipe that you love will work.

All you need to do is post your recipe on your blog on Thursday, March 5th, and I will provide an auto-link at the bottom of my post so that you can leave your post URL and others can visit and see what you have cookin'.

I hope to see you then!

recipe box swap on thursday!

This is the first Recipe Box Swap of 2009! 

I missed the January swap entirely because my mind was busy with my sweet girls moving out, so let's make this first one a good one!

This month's theme is "Fun Foods".   You know those foods, you don't make often, but they are staples in your family's menu just because they are fun.  Fun foods are usually sticky, salty, sugary or fattening, and we all love them! 

On Thursday, February 5th, I will be posting a favorite "fun foods" recipe here on my blog and I invite you to do the same on your blog. I will provide an auto-link at the bottom of my post so that you can leave your post URL and others can visit and see what you have cookin'.

The code for the graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap.jpg" border="0" alt="swap blogpost"></a>

The code for a sidebar graphic:

<a href="http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa99/ihavetosay/recipeswap-1.jpg" border="0" alt="swap sidebar"></a>

Everyone is invited!

I hope to see you on Thurday!

recipe box swap

Welcome to November's Recipe Box Swap!  This month's theme is Holiday Favorites.  If you have a recipe you would like to share, simply post it on your own blog and then add your post URL to the auto-link below.  Everyone is invited!

I wasn't sure which recipe to post for this, but I went to a cookie-swap on Tuesday and that clinched my decision:  Chocolate Crinkles.  These cookies are so good and they taste like chewy brownies, plus they are fun for the kids to help make.  We like to give these out to friends over the holidays and, so far, everyone loves them!

CHOCOLATE CRINKLES

                     

• 4                eggs   
• 1-3/4  cups              granulated sugar   
• 4  ounces              unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled slightly   
• 1/2  cup              cooking oil   
• 2  teaspoons              baking powder   
• 2  teaspoons              vanilla   
• 2  cups              all-purpose flour   
• 2/3  cup powdered sugar   

    

                  

Directions

                        

1. In a large bowl, combine eggs, granulated sugar, melted chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Gradually beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

                        

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large cookie sheet; set aside. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl. Shape one portion of dough into 1/2-inch balls. Shape the remaining portion of dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar to coat generously. Place balls 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet.

                        

3. Bake small cookies in the preheated oven about 8 minutes or until edges are set and tops are dry. Bake large cookies about 10 minutes or until edges are set and tops are dry. Do not overbake cookies. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool. (Cookies will deflate slightly upon cooling.) Makes about about 72 small and 36 large cookies

                                          

These cookies also work well at other times of the year, but in our house they are a Christmas favorite!

Happy cooking!

The Recipe Box Swap

Welcome to November's Recipe Box Swap!  This month's theme is, well, no theme at all, which means that anything goes!  Do you have a recipe that you would like to share?  Simply post it on your blog today and add your post URL to the auto-link below, that way people can come by and see what you have cookin"!

Today I am going to go all the way and give you my Oatmeal Cookie recipe.  A friend gave me this one years ago and it was an instant favorite of ours.  Not only are the cookies perfect--thin, crisp and buttery--it is also the best cookie dough you will ever eat.  Just forget the fact that there are eggs in it, take a bite and see for yourself.  You may end up with just a few cookies, but it is worth it!

Randi's Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 TB. milk
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup oatmeal

Cream together the butter and the sugars.  Add the egg, vanilla and milk and stir until well blended.  Add the flour, soda, powder and salt and stir until combined.  Finally, stir in the oatmeal.

Drop by spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. This makes about 2-1/2 dozen cookies, unless you eat a whole bunch of the batter.

Eat and enjoy!  You might want to make a test batch for yourself before you spring these on the family.  You know, just in case the turn out bad or something!  ;)

Happy cooking!

 

voting and recipes!

The big day is here! 

I have voted and I am ready to move on.  Apparently at 4:00 this afternoon (Colorado time) we will know who the winner is (why do they do this when polls haven't even closed in the western states??), and until that time I am going to turn the news off and avoid it all.  There are sure to be all kinds of predictions and early winners announced, but I don't want to hear it.  I was over this about 3 weeks ago!

If you are worried about all of this, just remember that there is Someone bigger than all of us in charge.  I would rather put my faith in God than in any old politician, any day!

Oh, and I just remembered that Thursday is The Recipe Box Swap and it is an "anything goes" theme---meaning no theme at all!  If you would like to participate, simply post your recipe on your own blog on Thursday and add your post URL to my post here on my blog so that people can come by to see what you have cookin'.  You are sure to find something new to do in the kitchen!

Have a lovely election day!