Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Fresh Cranberry Relish

Source: Pat Rust (Butch Barrett Recipe Collection Notebook page 83]

Yield: 5 cups

Ingredients 

  • 12 oz fresh or frozen cranberries (3 cups) chopped fine
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 medium (granny smith) Applss, peeled, cored, chopped
  • ½ cup orange marmalade
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp orange flavored liquer (Grand Marnier, Triple Sec or Coentreau) optional
  • 1 ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • ⅛ tsp cinnamon
Directions
  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Spoon into clean jars or containers and cover tight
  3. Refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving

*If sealed good can be kept up to 2 months
*Can be frozen, too.

Cranberry Sauce

Yield: 2 1/4 cups 
 Prep Time: 15 minutes 
 Make Ahead: 3-5 days ahead 

Ingredients
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 14 oz cranberries 
  1.  Bring 1 cup water without 1 cup sugar and bring to a boil. 
  2.  Add 14 oz fresh cranberries and return to a boil. 
  3.  Boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occassionally until cranberries have popped and sauce has thickeed. 
  4.  Cover and allow to cool at roomtemperature, then refrigerate until serving time.

Green Bean Casserole

 Source: French's Fried Onion's Label 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 5

Ingredients:

  • 10  oz can cream or mushroom soup
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • 2 cans green beans, drainer
  • 1 1£ cup French's Crispy Fried Onions (Original)(
Directions
  1. Mix soup, milk, and pepper in a 1 ½ quart baking dish.
  2. Stir in beans and ⅔ cup onions
  3. Bake at 350º for 39 minutes until hot, stir.
  4. Top with remaining ⅔ cup onions and bake 5 min until the onions are golden brown.
Kitchen tips: For a kick of spice, double the black pepper in this recipe to ¼ tsp and prepare as directed.  
To feed a crowd, double this recipe and prepare in a 13"x9" pan.  Use a whole 6 oz container of onions, reserving 1 ⅓ cup for the topping.  Increase cooking time to 40 minutes or until heated through.

My tweaks:

Sub the soup for homemade to avoid MSG:

  •  Saute ½ cup finely minced mushrooms in 3 Tbsp butter for 4-5 min until tender. Stir in 3 Tbsp flour for 1 minute.
  • Whisk in ½ cup chicken broth and 1 cup milk, simmer for 4-5 min, stirring until thick and bubbl, then let stand for 15 minutes before using. (can also use 1 ½ cup milk and a tsp of Better Than Boullion,  Also can sub cream for the milk.
IIncrease the pepper to ½ tsp.
Add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Double the onions and put them all on top to crisp up.  They will get mixed in as you serve them.  Also, look for organic versions for a cleaner version.

Friday, September 18, 2026

90's Better than Sex Cake

Ingredients 
  • 1 box German Chocolate cake mix 
  •  Ingredients for the cake mix 
  •  14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 
  •  12 oz jar caramel ice cream topping 
  •  8 oz Cool Whip, thawed 
  •  3-4 Heath or Skor candy bars, crushed 
  •  Optional: chocolate syrup for drizzling 
 Instructions  

  1.  Bake the cake accorking to package directions in a 13"x9" pan. 
  2.  Poke the holes: Let the cake cool for about 10-15 minutes. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake, about 1 inch apart. 
  3.  Add the condensed milk: Slowly pour the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the cake, letting it soad down into the holes. 
  4.  Add the caramel: Pour the caramel topping evenly over the cake, again allowing it to seep into the holes. 
  5.  Chill: Refrigerate the cake until completely cooled and chilled, ideally for several hours. 
  6.  Spread Cool Whip evenly over the top. 
  7.  Finish: Sprinkle the crushed Health or Skor bars over the whipped topping. Drizzle with a little chocolate syrup if desired. 
  8.  Serve: Refrigerate until ready to serve. It's especially good when made the day before.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

 Lisa's Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat at 350º

Combine

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup butter 
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tsps vanilla
  • 1 egg
Blend together and toss into the butter mixture
  • 1 ½ cup flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
Toss in Reese's peanut butter pieces.

Bake for 12 minutes.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Lisa’s Creeping Cobbler

 Source: Lisa Love

Yield: 13”x9” pan

  1. Melt in a 13”x9” pan:
    • 1 cube butter (½ cup)
  2. Spread in pan:
    • 6 cups berries (fresh, frozen, canned)
    • ⅓ cup sugar
  3. Mix together for batter:
    • 2 cups flour
    • ⅔ cup sugar 
    • 1 heaping tbsp. baking soda
    • ¾ cup half & half (I subbed whole milk + 1 tbsp. melted butter)
    • 2 tbsp. vanilla
  4. Pour batter over berries. 
  5. Bake @ 350* for 40 minutes, or until crisp.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Crispy Cobbler

 Source: Siguirimama on SL Forums

"I've got dessert, too.
I have lots of recipes that I like alot but for me to LOVE it, it has to be both scrumptious and super easy.
Crispy cobbler, though I know it's not a true cobbler."

Melt in an 8"x8" pan:
  • ⅓ cup butter
In a bowl, mix:
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • ⅛ tsp. salt
Add:
  • ¾ cup milk
Spread in pan with melted butter:
  • 3 cups fresh, frozen, or canned fruit (I love it with canned pears)

Pour batter over top
Bake 375º for 40 minutes or til golden and crisp.
Best served slightly warm with a little ice cream.  YUM.

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Source: Damn Delicious
Yield: 8 servings
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hr 5 min

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil (I use avocado oil)
  • 4 lb. boneless pork shoulder, excess fat trimmed and cut into 3-inch chunks
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. freshly ground pepper
  1. Set a 6-qt Instant Pot to high sauté setting.
  2. Heat oil, working in 2 batches, add pork and cook until evenly browned, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Stir in all the remaining ingredients. Select manual setting, adjust pressure to high and set for 30 minutes.  Quick release.
  4. Remove meat and shred using 2 forks.  Salt and pepper according to taste.
  5. Optional: Preheat oven to broil. Put carnitas on a  baking sheet and broil until crispy and crusted, about 2-3 minutes.  Serve immediately.


Saturday, February 4, 2023

Zuppa Toscana

 1 lb spicy Italian sausage (cash and carry)

2 cups cream

3 cups potatoes, peeled, cubed (2 ½ lb)

6 cups chicken broth

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 t oregano

pinch red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

2 c Kale, more or less depending on preference


Brown the sausage and onions in a soup pot.

Add everything else but the kale, bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes are no longer crunchy.

Add kale, simmer tenish more minutes.


**my notes:  

  • used bone broth  
  • added more sausage and kale
  • add 3 cloves garlic

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Drommar (Dreams)

 Sources: Nancy Ramberg, Harold Johanson, Naemi Johanson


½ cup butter (1 stick)

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1 tsp. ammonium carbonate

½ tsp. vanilla*

¾ tsp. almond flavoring*

*flavoring can be altered to your own taste  

Directions:

Beat butter, oil and sugar until light and "fluffy".  Mix flour with ammonium carbonate in a separate bowl.  Then gradually add this to butter mix and beat until smooth.  Lastly add flavorings.

Form dough into small balls (size of a marble) and bake at 350º for 8 - 10 minutes, but  keep watching as they bake quickly.

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Striped Delight

 Source: General Foods.    Servings: 12 to 15

Combine and press firmly into a 13"x9" pan.:

  • ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ⅓ cup melted butter
Beat until smooth:
  • 8oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 T milk
Fold in half (4 oz) to the cream cheese mixture, then spread over crust:
  • 8 oz cool whip (4 + 4, divided)
Prepare pudding, pour over cream cheese layer and chill several hours or overnight:
  • 2 4-serving size packages instant pudding mix (or sub1 6-oz serving size + 2 ½ cups milk)
  • 3 ½ cups cold milk

Spead remaining 4 oz. Coolwhip  on top, garnish with grated chocolate and/or nuts, if desired.




Friday, February 25, 2022

Johannah's Favorite Berry Balsamic Salad with Candied Pecans

Berry Balsamic Salad with Candied Pecans

Source: Johannah Banham

Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 5 min Servings: Serves: 8 Source: sixsistersstuff.com

Ingredients

Salad:

  • 1 (16 ounce) bag spring salad mix
  • 2 cups strawberries (sliced)
  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1/2 cup Feta cheese crumbles
  • Candied pecans*
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup strawberry jam
  • 3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Salad:

Toss together spring salad mix, sliced strawberries and blackberries. Add some Feta cheese for garnish (as much or little as you like).

*Candied pecans:

In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together chopped pecans and sugar.

Stir constantly for a few minutes until the sugar has caramelized and all of the pecans are coated.

Spread the coated pecans on a piece of foil or wax paper to cool.

After they are completely cool, break into pieces if they get clumped together. Add cooled pecans to salad and toss.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Creamy Spinach Tortellini Soup

AKA: The Soup, Upvote Soup

Source: Reddit

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • ⅓ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp dried basil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 to 1 ½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 2 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 4 cups frozen cheese tortellini (or fresh)
  • 3 cups packed spinach 
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or ½ &½)
Stovetop Instructions
  1. In a large stock pot, heat 3 Tbsp olive oil over medium high heat.  Sauté onions garlic until onions are clear and starting to soften
  2. Sprinkle in flour and basil into the pot, cook for 1-2 minutes.  Then add tomato paste, broth, tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, then down to a simmer.
  3. Cook and shred chicken thighs. 
  4. While pot is simmering, add tortellini and Parmesan cheese.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until Tortellini is cooked through.
  5. Bring down heat to low, stir in spinach and warmed cream.
  6. Enjoy
*Can sub Italian sausage for chicken
*Can sub flavored tomatoes

Crockpot Instructions
  1. In a Microwave safe bowl add onions, flour, basil, garlic, tomato paste and drizzle with olive oil.
  2. Microwave for 5 minutes, stirring every 90 seconds or so. (The mixture will be pasty and look weird, but don't worry it will be okay in the end.). Add this mixture to the slow cooker.
  3. Add broth, tomatoes, chicken, salt & pepper and stir
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours (or until chicken is very tender.)
  5. Add Tortellini and spinach, parmesan, and warmed cream.  (Cold cream can curdle!)
  6. Shred chicken and add back, put lid on and cook on HIGH for about 10 more minutes, until pasta is cooked through.  
  7. Ladle into serving bowls and enjoy!
Instant Pot Instructions
  1. Turn IP on to sauté, on the highest setting.  Heat oil in the bottom of the pot.  Add the diced onion and stir for a couple of minutes.  Add in garlic and stir until onions are translucent.
  2. Add in basil, tomato paste. broth, tomatoes, chicken, salt & pepper.  Give a quick stir.  Manual pressure cook for 15 minutes on HIGH.  Vent pressure when it timer beeps.
  3. Remove chicken and cut or shred, add back.  Stir in pasta, spinach, parm, warmed cream. Heat on sauté to reheat quickly.  One tortellini is cooked through, serve. 

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Chocolate Mousse Pie with Joe-Joe's Crust

Source: Trader Joe's Cooking Blog

Serves: 12

Prep and Cook Time: 15-29 minutes, not including chill time

Chill Time: 4 hours or overnight

Ingredients

  • 28 Joe-Joe's Cookies (2 rows out of the package) (Or sub Oreos)
  • ¼ cup melted unsalted butter (10-20 seconds in microwave or low heat on stove)
Filling

  • 12 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 14 oz Coconut Milk (light or regular, or coconut cream)
  • 4 T. pureed Avocado
Instructions

  • Preheat to 350º
  • Crush cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs. Pour melted butter and pulse until combined.  Press crumbs firmly into a pie plate, using a glass to press and compact 
  • Bake crust for 5-7 minutes.  Cool completely.
  • Melt chips on stove or microwave. (Zap for 1 min and then in 30 sec increments, stirring in between, until smooth.
  • Immediately blend for 20-30 seconds in blender until smooth: coconut milk, avocado and melted chocolate
  • Put filling in crust, chill for 4 hours or overnight.  
  • Optional: Serve with whipped cream and/or strawberries.



Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Captain’s Choice
Source: Gordon Tester

  • Fish
  • Ranch Dressing
  • Onions
  • Peppers
  • Montreal Steak Seasoning
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Parmesan cheese

Sprinkle fish with Montreal Steak Seasoning, place in a greased baking dish.  Surround with sliced peppers & onion.  Cover with ranch dressing, sprinkle with parm and add a dash of cayenne over the top and a sprinkle of black pepper.

Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes, depending on how thick the fish is.  

Monday, February 10, 2020

Cucumber Sandwiches
Source: Pampered Chef


  • 1 large cucumber
  • fresh dill weed
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 package dry Italian dressing 
  • 1 refrigerated Italian loaf dough in tube
  1. BREAD: 
    1. Preheat oven to 350º.  
    2. Grease a bread tube and put the bread dough into it.  
    3. Bake upright for 25-30 minutes.  
    4. Cool and slice into thin slices.
  2. SPREAD:
    1. Let cream cheese come to room temp.
    2. Cream cream cheese, spice packet and mayo together.
    3. Chill for at least 6 hours.
    4. Spread on bread slices.
  3. CUCUMBER:
    1. Peel and score edges with a fork.
    2. Thinly slice.
    3. Place one slice on top of spread on each bread slice.
  4. DILL:
    1. Top with a dill sprig on each cucumber.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Company Eggs



  • 8 slices bread (cubed)
  • 2/3 lb. cheddar (shredded)
  • 8 eggs (beaten)
  • 1/2 lb. bacon (fried) or ham (diced)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • dash of pepper
  • 3 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
  1. Cube bread and place in the bottom of a 9x13" buttered glass dish.
  2. Add shredded cheese to well beaten eggs.
  3. Add milk, bacon (or ham), salt, pepper, mustard to egg mixture.
  4. Pour over the bread, cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.
  5. In the morning, take out of the refrigerator and set out on counter for 30-45 minutes, @preheat oven and bake 45 minutes @ 350º.
  6. Take out of oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before eating.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Journey's End Vegetable Soup

Source: Journey's End Restaurant, Mundelein, IL
Yield: About 9 cups

Thank you for 33 great years; we will miss you all.  We hope you enjoy making our soup as much as we did!


  • 1/4 cup bacon drippings or margarine
  1. 1/2 cup peeled and diced carrot
  2. 1/2 cup diced onion
  3. 1/2 cup diced celery
  4. 1/4 tsp. oregano
  5. 1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
  6. 1/8 tsp. basil
  7. 1/8 tsp. thyme
  8. 1/8 tsp. rosemary
  9. 1 clove minced garlic
  10. 1 bay leaf
  • 7 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup canned chopped tomatoes
  • 1-2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2/3 cup peeled and diced potato
  • 1/3 cup peeled and diced turnip
  • 1/4 cup cooked red kidney beans
  • 1/4 cup cooked navy or lima beans
  • 2 tbsp. soup pasta
  • 1 tbsp. chopped parsley
  • 1 tbsp. barley
  • 1 tbsp. split peas*
  • 1 cup chopped spinach
  • 1 cup chopped cabbage
Heat bacon drippings or margarine in heavy saucepan over medium heat.
Add next ten ingredients and cook until vegetables soften, stirring frequently.  Add 1/4 cup flour to form a roux, stirring until smooth.  Add all remaining ingredients; cover and cook for approximately 50 minutes.  
Season with salt and pepper.

*No longer in our version, but in the original

Dutch Baby Batter

Source: Ray Walker (Owner Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House)
Yield: Four 8" pancakes or two 12" pancakes


  • 4 tsp. clarified butter
  • 8 oz. skim milk
  • 4 oz. heavy whipping cream
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • dash nutmeg
Directions:
Mix milk, cream, and eggs in a large bowl using a wire whisk.  Mix in the sugar then the flour until there are no lumps. Add the salt and nutmeg, mix until smooth

Place 1 tsp. of clarified butter (non-clarified butter will burn) in an 8" Teflon coated warm skillet.  Let butter melt and move skillet to have butter coat entire cooking surface.  Pour 10 oz. of batter into the skillet and place into a 400º preheated oven.  Let cook for 8-10 minutes in a convection oven or 25-30 minutes in a conventional oven until it is nicely browned.  As the edge of the Dutch Baby firms up and rises at at least and edge higher than the pan, gently spin it in the pan to loosen any friction and encourage a higher rising edge.  It may rise as high as 8", so plan your oven space accordingly.

This recipe yields 4 Dutch Baby pancakes using 8" skillets.  You may cook 2 at a time in the oven, paying close attention to the color and cooking.  You may also cook a larger Dutch Baby in a 12" skillet using twice the butter and batter.


Apple Pancake "My Signature Recipe"

Source: Richard Walker  www.richardwalkers.com 
Yield: 2 pancakes, 2-4 servings


  • 1 c. water
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 4 tsp. skim milk powder
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1/16 tsp grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup clarified butter
  • 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

  • 2/3 cup superfine sugar mixed with 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  1. Whisk together water, cream, and milk powder.  Beat eggs and whisk into water mixture. Add confectioner's sugar, flour, salt, and nutmeg and beat to remove lumps.
  2. Heat the butter in a 10 inch, heavy bottomed, Teflon, oven-proof skillet.  Add half the apples and sauté over low-medium heat for 2 minutes.  Sprinkle with half the sugar-cinnamon mixture and cook over medium heat until apples are browned and glazed. 
  3. Pour half of batter over apples in skillet.  Bake apple pancake in preheated 400º oven for 18 minutes until pancake is puffed around sides, golden, and firm in the center.  Remove immediately from  oven.  Place a dinner plate over the skillet.  Carefully and quickly flip pan upside down over plate so pancake comes out apple-side up.
  4. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make second pancake.