Boiled Egg Salad Sandwiches

Boiled Eggs Salad Sandwiches

served on my hubby's Fresh Bread (recipe for the bread later)

5 Boiled Eggs - peeled

1/4 -1/3 C. Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise

Sliced bread (6 slices as this made 3 large sandwiches)

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Paprika

A few drops of Tabasco if desired, this adds such a yummy factor!

Combine all ingredients. I use a strawberry/egg slicer to get the eggs sliced nicely to start off. Add the seasonings and dressing, finish combing until your desired consistency. Spread across sliced bread, sprinkle with a bit more paprika and serve immediately. Yummy, yummy, yummy! 

No this isn't trick photography, my hens lay us wonderful eggs with very bright yellow yolks.

Increase or decrease amounts depending on how many sandwiches you would like to make. 

This is a family favorite

Broiler Barbecue Rabbit

There are a few things to know about cooking Rabbit. The majority of recipes call for long cook times at a lower heat.
As this was my first time cooking rabbit I turned to the BEST source I could think of.
My Grandma's old Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking circa 1947.

                   

                         Broiler Barbecued Rabbit

1 dressed rabbit, 1 1/2 lbs                       1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups cold water                                     1 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt                                                   1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup butter, melted                             1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 tsp grated onion                                   1/4 c water
1 tsp salt

Start broiler oven 10 min before baking. Set to mod hot (350F).
Clean and wash the rabbit thoroughly. Cut into serving pieces place in bowl, cover with cold water and add salt (first units of water and salt).
Soak 1 1/2 hours. Drain, pat dry with paper towels. Melt butter in saucepan, remove from heat, add remaining ingredients and beat thoroughly.
Dip rabbit pieces in sauce and arrange on aluminum foil-lined shallow pan and place in broiler 3 inches from heat source.
Broil 30 min, basting with remaining sauce every 10 min.
After top side is well browned, turn rabbit over increase heat to 375F and broil another 40 min, basting frequently.
Increase heat to 400F and broil 15 minutes so that meat brown richly. Remove to platter, pour remaining sauce over rabbit and serve with rice.

After turning the first time

Now I'm not that great at sticking to recipes. Due to time constraints I used all the methods and very few of the actual ingredients.
I had a 2.3 lbs rabbit, we soaked it for over 2 hours. Then I basted it with a store bought BBQ sauce mixed with melted butter.
After it was cooked, I heated extra BBQ sauce before drizzling it over the cooked meat and the white rice.

It was DELICIOUS!


I know I've stopped posting recipes for the last little bit and that truly is a shame since my cooking this last year has really taken off but I will try to post more of the unusual things I've been cooking!
For cooking rabbit the very first time this was a WIN!

Saucy Apricot Chicken ~ Slow Cooker

Saucy Apricot Chicken

4-6 boneless skinless Chicken breast

1 (12oz-15oz) jar Apricot preserves

1 pkg or 1/4 C dry onion soup mix

Place all items in Crock pot (slow cooker)

cook on low 4 1/2 - 5 hours.

Serve with rice or on rolls.

I added 1 cup of small veggies to the rice and then topped it with some of the remaining sauce in the cooker, was amazing!

Chicken & Black Bean Flautas

Chicken and Black Bean Flautas

6 10 inch flour tortilla's or 10 8 inch flour tortilla's
1/2 C. Chopped Onion
1 Clove garlic, minced or 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp cooking oil
2 C. Shredded cooked chicken
1 C. Canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 C. Corn
1/2 C. Salsa
1/2 C. Shredded Mexican Cheese, blend
2 Tbls. Snipped fresh cilantro or oregano. (or one small cilantro cube)

Cooking oil for Baking.

Preheat oven to 350. Wrap for tortilla's in foil. Heat in oven 10 minutes. Mean while in large sauce pan cook onion, garlic and if using cilantro cube, until tender.
Stir in chicken, black beans, salsa, cheese and fresh cilantro if using.
For each Flauta spoon 1/2 C. filling.
Roll tightly and secure with wooden tooth picks.
Place Flauta's on a large baking sheet & brush with 1 tbsp. cooking oil.
Bake in a 350 oven for 30-40 min or until golden brown.

Serve and enjoy!

Really we made this last night and it is now in my favorite collection. Its that great!

Oven Chili Cheese Dogs

Oven Chili Cheese Dogs

8 Hot dogs

8 Hot dog buns

1 can Chili Cheese

1/4 - 1/2 C. Diced Onion (to personal taste)

Cheddar Cheese

Mayonnaise

Mustard (I omitted) 

Sweet Relish (I omitted) 

Preheat oven to 350

Line the inside of the hot dog buns with mayo & relish. Evenly spread mustard. Fill with hot dogs and squish onto foil lined 13x9 baking pan.

Top hot dogs with chili, cheese and onion. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.

This was amazing - its a new family favorite. As for the condiments, use what you like normally before covering with the chili and cheese. ;)

Teriyaki Chicken & Rice

Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

2-3 Cups cooked white or brown rice
2 Cups cooked large veggies
4-8 pieces of chicken (4 breasts or 8 tenders)
1 bottle of Honey Teriyaki Sauce

Marinate the chicken while it defrosts, or if fresh marinate 15 minutes and then grill.
Grill on both sides until cooked all the way through, then turn up the heat and sear.
(professionals sear the meat first and then cook the center slowly, unless you fully understand how to do this correctly I wouldn't advise this)
serve cooked chicken over rice with the veggies on the side and add 1/4 - 1/3 cup sauce to each plate.

Voila, nice dinner in 20 minutes, cheap, easy and yummy!

HandCream

Hand Cream

16 oz Baby Lotion

8 oz Vaseline

8 oz Vitamin E Cream

5-7 ml fragrance (your choice I choose Autumn Harvest)

Mix until it resembles frosting - my recipe is a double of the above.

it filled 19, 4 oz with at least 10 oz to spare

I made a big batch for a party I am hosting in a month and yes I have been prepping for this party for three months now.

Things like this though whether I have a big turn out or not are great - they can also be used for Christmas gifts as well as teacher/neighbor gifts.

Sweet & Spicy Carrots

1 1b bag of mini carrots
1/3 C. Brown Sugar
1/4 C. Butter
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Turmeric

I presoaked my carrots for about an hour before draining and cooking. This way they don't get all dry and wrinkly but not diluted with too much liquid either.

Cook covered at 350 for an hour - removing once or twice to stir - re-glazing the carrots at each turn.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

5 minutes

one pan

and a taste of heaven!

One pancake mix

Chocolate chips

Syrup

Water

Mix the right amount of batch per directions and add up to 1/4 the batter of chocolate chips. I made 2 cups of mix so I added 1/2 C. Chocolate Chips

Cook - flip - cook again
Serve!

Amazingly divine! Fluffy, sweet just right for a great start to a ugh morning!

Thai Peanut Chicken - easy version

 

1 Large bag of frozen Chicken
1 (1/2 C. extra reserved) Thai Peanut Sauce
2 C. uncooked white rice
2 C. small veggie mix

Add frozen chicken and rest of Thai Peanut sauce - cook on low 6-8 hours

Cook rice separately, cook veggies separately then mix together. Serve strained meat over rice with remaining sauce drizzled over top.
For my daughter (8 yr old) I omit the extra sauce as it's too spicy for her. The cooked flavor is yummy enough for her!

So yummy, so easy and quite a break from the more mild flavors without being too hot or too spicy. Its a mild heat, with a mild sweet nutty taste.

Sweet Indulgence

Greek Vanilla Yogurt 

Frozen Blackberries

The thick rich cream of the fat free yogurt is perfectly balanced with the sweet and sharp taste of the blackberries.

A perfect pairing of the two flavors.

Nothing else is needed

No sweeteners

Just a few minutes for the blackberries to thaw out

and the juices to mix into the cream yogurt.

Enjoy!

The best part of the treat is how guilt free and good for you it is!

Coffee Ice

Left over coffee made into Ice Cubes.

This is not really a new idea.

I just jazzed mine up a bit by freezing them into shapes. Our family LOVES coffee milk. These added to lightly flavored milk - chocolate syrup, tsp vanilla, dash of stevia.... and a few of these and YUM!

I found both of these small molds at Ikea for a dollar each - the Ice popped right out and a rinse was all that was needed to clean them!

Quick, easy, thrifty and yummy!

Home Made Face Cleanse

I would call it a face wash - save the fact that its not really washing, not in the usual sense that is. I found this on pinterest, titled The Oil Cleansing Method, her post is amazing and very detailed. Check it out.

For my first batch (seen above) I used

1 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 oz. Castor Oil
5 drops of Tea Tree Oil

Gently rub it onto wet face. Next wet a wash cloth with HOT water (not boiling but as hot as you can stand it) wring and place on face - steaming your pores - until the cloth has reached room temp. (average 1 min)
Rinse cloth and gently remove oil.

Best ratio batches are

Normal skin 1-1 ratio of *EVOO & Castor Oil
Acne Prone Skin 1-3 ratio of *EVOO & Castor Oil
Drier Skin  1-3 ratio of Castor Oil to *EVOO

Other good oils for very oily skin are jojoba oil, grapeseed oil & flaxseed oil.
For very dry skin almond oil & evening primrose oil are good.

Add tea tree oil if you have issues with acne - or for your first batch to help your body transition without breaking out.

I have been using this for two days (early stages I know) my acne is clearing up and my skin is softer and healthier!
Already I love it!

As everyone is different you need to tweak your oils until you find the right combo - the one listed at the top is working well enough for me, but I will add any changes that I make back to this post!

9/27/12 ~ Update ~

 My face two days before I started using this

 Close up - trying to show all the many many tiny bumps 

Two weeks later

No oils that I can't wash away - no matter how many times I wash

No gunky feelings

No tiny thousands of dirt bumps on my face

Two weeks later

this is what the same patch of skin looks like!

I feel so much better!

I don't know about you - I however, am sold!

I will be using this for years to come!

***UPDATE***
3-22-15

I've been using this for 2 1/2 years now. Will never go back!
Any time I run out and put off making a new batch - reusing my old expensive face washes - my face immediately gets oily, greasy and bumpy!
This is the best stuff ever!
Not only does it make your skin feel clean and amazing but after a month of using it regularly you will notice you don't need to use it every night.
Instead I rinse my face with hot water, dry off and use the cleanse once to twice a week.
More during that "time of the month" for women.
I highly recommend this.
Cheap, easy and lasts forever!

Coke Chicken

Coke Chicken 

2 lbs. Chicken Tenders
1 can Coca Cola
12 oz. Ketchup
1 lb. Baby Carrots
2 lb. smal red potatoes cut into thick chunks (halves or quarters)

Mis all ingredients together. Place into 1 gallon freezer bags & freeze (if saving for camping or once a month cooking). Unthaw.

To grill - wrap in tin foil (heavy duty - double the foil) place on grill cook for 40 minutes - turning over midway.

Dutch oven - Place chicken & veggies in Dutch oven. Mix coke & ketchup and pour over the top. 12 coals on top and 12 on bottom.
cook for an hour or until chicken is done and veggies are tender.

Slow Cooker - dump frozen bag or after mixing into slow cooker. Cook on low 8-10 hours. High 4-6.

For cooking once a month double recipe and make two batches. I took this camping and quadrupled the recipe since we were going to have such a large group.

 Super simple to assemble & freeze, easy to cook and great to taste!

Another camping and once a month cooking favorite!

I love how versatile this recipe is - can be cooked so many different ways! 

I am sure it can also be done on the stove top or in a dutch in the oven!

Coconut Curry Chicken

Coconut Curry Chicken

1-1/2 pds of Chicken (thinly sliced or cubed)
3-4 C. of mixed veggies (or cauliflower & peas)
1 bottle of Coconut curry (I bought mine at target)
6 oz. Coconut Milk
1 tsp. Turmeric

Best paired with, Coconut Jasmine Rice (recipe at bottom)

Pair your recipe with matching flavors, or compliment flavors.

soak chicken in Coconut Milk and Turmeric 

4-6 hours

Pat chicken dry with a paper towel and grill lightly

making sure its cooked thoroughly 

while chicken is cooking start the veggies in the curry sauce, as well as the rice.

When both the chicken and the veggies are cooked combine, cook another 5 minutes on low.

Serve over Coconut Rice

Coconut Jasmine Rice 

2 C. Coconut Milk

1 tsp. Coconut Oil

3/4 C. Water

2 C. Jasmine Rice

salt to taste

Add all ingredients into sauce pan, heat to a low boil.

Stir constantly.

When it starts to boil, reduce to low.

Cover tightly and simmer 15-20 min.

Stir occasionally, fluff with fork when done.

This is the original recipe - I amended mine to a lighter slightly faster version.

I have a microwave rice cooker (which I love) so my recipe is adapted for that type of cooking.

2. C. Jasmine Rice

1 C. Coconut Milk

1 tsp. Coconut Oil

2 C. Water

No salt

10 minutes on high in the microwave - pull out, stir, check water (add more if needed)

cook another 10 minutes on high in the microwave and voila!

This was delicious! I have been trying to find Indian recipes with American equivalents. Of the few I have found I am still trying to find all the ingredients. Using bottled premade curry at the moment is the best I can do - eventually I will be adding full Gujarati recipes.

Teriyaki Fajitas

Teriyaki Fajitas

1 pd steak cooked and cut into thin strips (I bought them pre-pkg from the store)
1 onion cut thin
1 pepper cut thin
1/2 bottle of Teriyaki sauce
sliced provolone cheese
tortillas

Add first 4 ingredients to a gallon freezer bag, shake and marinate at least an hour.
Cook ingredients on high heat until cooked thoroughly.
lay in middle of tortilla add cheese, fold, serve!
Easy and yummy!
Add cooked rice on the side or inside if desired.

Double recipe, freeze. Needs to be unfrozen before cooking, can be pan grilled, foil grilled or flame grilled.
Would make a good take and go camping recipe as well! 

BBQ & Southwest Tacos

Now I found this recipe originally on Pinterest titled Callies Soft Tacos. However, I modified it AND it wasn't quit correct on a few points. Thus I will be correcting it and not linking to the original.

Southwest Soft Tacos

5-6 frozen chicken breasts
1 can enchilada sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 cups corn (I prefer frozen)
4 cups cooked rice
2 cups mexican shredded cheese

Place chicken, enchilada sauce & seasoning in crockpot. Cover. Cook on high 4 hours. 

Pull the chicken out - shred it - re-add back into sauce in crockpot along with corn & cook 30 minutes more. (more photos to follow)

Add cooked rice and stir together.

In medium soft shelled burritos, add some cheese and a few scoopfuls of southwest mix.

Roll up, I fold in two side slightly and roll the rest up and over.

 

Serve immediately with a side salad or wrap in either foil or press n' seal wrap, place in gallon freezer bags and freeze for quick lunches.

 

Using medium soft burritos I was able to make 30 (I used only 5 lg chicken breasts)

 

 

BBQ Soft Tacos

5-6 frozen chicken breasts (2-3 pds pork)

1 bottle of honey BBQ sauce (or flavor of choice)

3 Cups cooked rice

2 Cups mexican shredded cheese

Place chicken & sauce in crockepot, cover, cook on high 4 hours. (low up to 8 if you need it to cook while working same for recipe above). Remove chicken from crockpot - shred, return to crock pot and cook 1/2 hour more. 

Add cooked rice, stir together.

Add mix & cheese to soft tacos and roll up.

 

Serve immediately with side salad or wrap and freeze for later.

Using medium soft burritos I was able to make 30 tacos.

 after shredding

after adding in corn

My husband loves both of them and has been eating them for lunches from frozen

It took me two days of making one large batch of each and will feed him lunches for a month!

(working on the theory of 2 burritos a day)

Coffee Creamer

 French Vanilla Coffee Creamer

14 oz. Sweetened condensed milk
14 oz. Milk (any - including soy, almond ect)
2 tsp. Vanilla

1 quart mason jar. I used a washed out, wild coyote Blue Cheese dressing jar.
Add all ingredients into jar - shake well (stirring works also)

Very yummy!

Next time however I am going to do it a little different.

I will substitute the milk for a 13.5 oz. can of lite coconut milk.
I think it will add to its allure - especially since my favorite creamer is coconut!

Shepards Pie - Favorite

Shepard's Pie - Garris Family Favorite

1     pkt Anjus Sauce
3     C. Water ~ for Anjus Sauce
4     C. Normandy Vegetables Mix
1-2 C. Ground Beef/pork/turkey
1/2  C. Sour Cream
2     C. Potato Flakes
3/4  C. Milk ~ for potato Flakes
2     C. Water ~ for potato Flakes
2     Tbls. Butter ~ for potato Flakes
1/2-3/4 C. Grated Cheese

Serves 4
cook time 1 hour
cook at 350

Now as I've stated before, this is what I call an Egg roll recipe. My previous Shepard's Pie found HERE, was good but the mashed potatoes were too thick and the sauce to thick.
My hubby still loved it, but he voted tonight and this is the WINNER!
Many people take cooking far to seriously - especially these types of foods. Both of these recipes I created on the spot to suit what I had available on hand.

Recipe Directions:

Add Anjus packet to a large pot - slowly add in water. Stir frequently over med heat. My packet called for 3 cups water.
Once the sauce is ready add veggies and pre-cooked (leftover) ground meat.
Start oven
I add the veggies about 10 minutes before the meat to give them time to cook.
Add the sour cream and stir.

At this point I prep my casserole dish by spraying the bottom with non stick cooking spray. Feel free to also use butter.

Pour into prepared bowl and place in oven with out the lid - cook 20 minutes at 350.

Start water & butter for potato flakes - once its boiling remove from heat then add both flakes & milk.

Pull out casserole dish from oven, mine was extra runny so I drained 1-1 2/2 C. of juice from the dish. Next time I will drain it before adding the sour cream - leave some of the sauce or it will be too dry.
Spread potato's over the top of the meat sauce and return to oven for 15 minutes.
A few minutes before the timer goes off shred the cheese.
Remove from oven sprinkle cheese over the top of the potato's and cook an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Serve and enjoy!

My veggies & ground meat

veggies while they cooked







My helper, trying not to step on top of my helper took an additional 5 minutes of cooking and prep time! Although he is rather cute!

Add the sour cream 

Next time I will have already removed half of this sauce before adding the sour cream 

however it still turned out well

using flakes instead of mashed really cut down the cooking time!

I didn't have to heat up cold thick potato's and these really seemed to do better in the dish.

Add cheese, cook - enjoy!