Peanut butter mousse cake

I just use a devil's food cake mix for the cake part of the cake. You can make two layers, or you can make one and cut it in half.

Peanut butter mousse:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup peanut butter chips
1 tsp vanilla

While the cake bakes, put 1/3 cup of the cream and the peanut putter chips in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat, until the chips melt and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and let cool 20-25 minutes until barely warm. Beat remaining 2/3 cup cream in a small bowl with electric mixer just until soft mounds form when beaters are lifted. (Don't overbeat of mousse won't be smooth.) Gently stir about 1/3 of the whipped cream into peanut butter mixture until blended. Then add peanut butter mixture to remaining whipped cream and gently stir (fold) until blended and no streaks remain.
Spread mousse on bottom layer and then top with top layer. Refrigerate while preparing glaze.

Glaze:
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Stir cream, butter, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar disolves. bring to a boil and add chocolate chips. Remove from heat, let stand five minutes, then stir until smooth.
Pour glaze over top of cake and gently spread to edges, letting glaze drip down sides. Garnish with peanut butter cups cut in half. Refrigerate at least two hours until set or up to a day.

Chayote

I've joined the ranks of the hippie organic basket buyers. Or at least I've started making Monica buy them for me. This last week we each got a chayote squash (which I found out what was by googling "weird green fruit.") I found this recipe and we tried it out. It was way, way yummy. We left out the red pepper flakes, but otherwise pretty much did just what it said. Oh--we did use balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar. We cut them up kind of like big french fries. I ate most of them. Peter didn't really like them. I cleaned out the pan with jalapeno bread (because that's the only kind of bread we have). You should try it. You know, if you can find chayote and it's not crazy expensive.


http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=140449&origin=detail&Servings=4&metric=False

Easiest Chicken Ever

You need two ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salad dressing

Cut the chicken up (I use scissors) taking off all the nasty fat-like things. You want bite-sizeish pieces. Then put the chicken in a frying pan. Cover with salad dressing. Stir over medium high heat until the chicken is cooked and slightly browned. Usually takes ten to fifteen minutes. So much better than chicken nuggets, in so many ways. You can use in salads, taco or burrito type things, or as a side dish. Ranch dressing is always good, and I used a Miso Ginger today that was really yummy.

Fried Cauliflower

I ran across this in my blog today and I thought I'd repost it here since it's recipe-like and I'm planning on making it today or tomorrow.

Here you go:

My first area on my mission was in Donetsk right by the mission home and office. Because of that we got quite a few perks. One was life changing--I learned to make fried cauliflower.

Two Sisters were leaving to attend the Moscow MTC and they went to our mission office to be set apart. Then they spent the night at our apartment before they left. On was Anna Bigun. She was from Mariupal. Her mom always cooked for the Elders in Mariupal and she wanted to make us dinner. It was quite a treat for me because I was pretty much living on yogurt and bread at that point. Oh, but it was really, really good yogurt and bread. She made several things, but the only one I remember was fried cauliflower. The other two Sisters didn't seem quite a sold on it as Anna and I were, but that was probably just because they were more health conscious than we were. I never said it was healthy. At the end of the meal Anna and I took bread and dipped it in the left over grease until we had the pan cleaned out. Oh yumminess.

All this just to bring you to the point that I really don't have a recipe. But I'll tell you how I make it.

First you put some oil in a frying pan. Kind of a lot of oil. Then you fry an egg with salt and pepper. I don't know what it is about the egg--you don't use it for anything, but you have to do it. Maybe it's for a snack as you're cooking.

Actually at the same time as you're doing that, or maybe before you steam the cauliflower. Just put it in a little bit of boiling water and put the lid on. In case you didn't understand the word steaming. This is why I'm not a recipe writer.

When the cauliflower is soft you take it out and cut it so you have big florets. Then you slice those about a quarter of an inch thick or maybe a little thinner. Then you fry them in your oil that you fried the egg in. Just salt and pepper it. Lots of salt. A bit of pepper. You need to not stir it very much so it gets brown--the brown parts are the best. And man, it is good. If you're in to that sort of thing. I don't think I've ever met a person that wasn't in to that sort of thing.

Oh--when it's done take it out of the pan and put it on a paper towel to try and get at least a little bit of the grease off. There you go. Eat it hot.

Oh--and don't use a plastic pancake turner to stir it with if you're using a metal pan. Every time I've done that I've melted it. Nasty. Truly nasty.

That's about all. Sorry it wasn't very recipe-like.

If you have any good Ukrainian bread sitting around I would highly recommend you make this and use the left over grease to dip your bread in. Serious yum.

Mom's bread

5 1/2 cups hot water (as hot as it comes out of the tap)
2/3 cup oil
2/3 cup honey
put that in the hot water along with about six cups of flour (Whole wheat)
before you mix that up, on one mound put two tablespoons of yeast
and those are heaping
and two tablespoons of salt, and you don't want to mix the two together. different mounds, because salt stops the yeast form working
honey helps

then you can beat those up (if you don't have a bread mixer, beat them with a mix master)
mix 'em right up
usually bread is kneaded for ten minutes, and the longer you beat it the less you have to knead it.
I usually do about five minutes kneading/mixing each.
after you mix it you add about 6 cups of flour
and if you don't have  a bread machine to do the kneading, put it in a plastic bag

make them into loaves
they raise for about an hour (longer if the house is cooler)
that depends on the temperature
cover them with a dish towel

350 degrees, about 30 minutes for a regular sized loaf, and down from there (about five minutes per size)
when they come out, wrap them in the dish cloths and it'll soften up the tops

grease the tops with butter/oil to have a soft top, but mom hasn't done that for a long time.

a couple of hours to make a batch of bread (but she has the mixer, and no kids)

That chicken stuff you serve over rice

When I had Mima a lady from the ward brought over some really good chicken stuff you have on rice.  Maybe creamy chicken stuff would be a better name for it.  Anyways, I asked her for the recipe and I'm finally getting around to making it tomorrow (you know, if the plan works out).  It was way good, though, and I'm sick of searching through my email for it every  time I think about making it, so here it is.  Her words, not mine:

Here is the recipe.

 

4 frozen chicken breasts

2 packets good seasoning italian dressing mix (I use zesty italian, and I only use about 1 and 1/2 packets)

1 package of cream cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

lemon pepper ( the original recipe does not call for lemon pepper, I just think it adds a bit more flavor.)

 

In crockpot combine chicken and dressing mix. Amount of water varies. At least 2 cups. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. do not drain water. Add cream cheese, soup and a dash of lemon pepper. Cook on low for another hour or so. Serve over rice.

Roasted Vegetables

These roasted vegetables have totally been hitting the spot lately.  I use potatoes and yellow squash, because that's what I have, but the original recipe called for butternut squash and a bunch of other stuff.  Pretty much just use whatever you have.

Ingredients:

1 gallon-size ziplock bag almost full of vegetables cut into bite-sized pieces (the vegetables, not the bag)

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried thyme 

1 tsp dried oregano (I always put in extra)

1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tsp salt

3/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil

Mix everything in the ziplock bag.  Don't turn it upside down.  It's a bad idea every time no matter how many times you do it.

Put them all on the cookie sheet and roast for 45-55 minutes turning every 15 minutes (or not, I always forget)

Veggies should be tender on the inside and browned on the outside.  The browned part is the best.

Serve immediately

*Just as a note, I can't follow directions and don't expect you to either.  You can't really mess this up.  It's way yummy no matter what you do.

Crockpot Cooking

I ran across this the other day, and thought it was interesting since I keep meaning to actually use my crockpot. . .

All crockpots or slow cookers are NOT created equal. The following is only a rule of thumb and your mileage may vary.
Conventional Cooking Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Crockpot Cooking Time: 1.5 hours on HIGH - 4 to 8 hours on LOW

Conventional Cooking Time: 30 to 40 minutes
Crockpot Cooking Time: 3 to 4 hours on HIGH - 6 to 10 hours on LOW

Conventional Cooking Time: 50 minutes to 3 hours
Crockpot Cooking Time: 4 to 6 hours on HIGH - 8 to 18 hours on LOW

Most stews, pot roasts and other uncooked meat/poultry and vegetable combinations will require at least 8 hours on LOW or 4 to 6 hours on HIGH.

Fruit Bread

1 qt fruit with juice, pureed
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
4 tsp baking soda

Stir all together. Pour into two greased bread pans (or one greased 9x13 pan). Bake at 345 for about an hour.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini fresh from the garden! (our neighbor's garden, not ours) We had it in stir fry tonight. And, since zucchini was on my mind, I thought I'd send along one way to make it unhealthy for you! But it tastes so good.

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
Beat together in large bowl.

3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
Blend into zucchini mixture. Bake at 350 in greased bread pans. About 1 hour for regular size and 30 minutes for mini loaves.

Basil-Red Pepper Soup

5 large red bell peppers, seeded, cut in 1-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar (or to taste)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Combine red peppers, garlic, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil, and then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes.

Transfer red peppers and garlic to food processor, reserving cooking liquid. Process until smooth, adding cooking liquid as needed to reach desired consistency. Discard extra cooking liquid.

Return soup to pan, and heat to serving temperature. Stir in basil, vinegar, olive oil (if used), salt, and black pepper.

It's very anti-inflammatory, quick, and yummy. I changed a couple of things - just sliced the peppers, which worked fine, used pre-minced garlic, and balsamic vinegar instead of red wine.

Birthday Cake

For Hyrum's cake I just baked a brownie mix in two round pans. (It would be a good idea to grease and flour the bottom and to not over-bake.)

Then I made the filling for the MVP Pie. Here's the recipe for those that need it:

8 oz cream cheese
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup whipping cream
Beat until light and fluffy. Set aside.

¾ cup whipping cream
Beat until soft peaks form. Fold into peanut butter mixture.

I layered the filling between brownie layers and spread it on top. Chopped peanut butter cups (refrigerate them first, to make it easier on yourself) and stuck them on top.

It was pretty yummy.

Basic No-Bake Cheesecake

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
¼ cup cold water
Soften gelatin in water; stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved.

1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
Beat together. Then gradually add gelatin and:

¾ cup milk
¼ cup lemon juice
Chill until slightly thickened.

1 cup whipping cream
Beat until peaks form. (or use thawed cool whip) Fold into cream cheese mixture and pour into graham cracker crust; chill until firm. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Sweet Salad

8 cups salad greens
1 (8 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup red grapes, halved
2 ribs celery, diced
1 to 1 ½ green onions, chopped
½ cup pecans

Toss all together and chill. Serve with raspberry or poppy seed dressing.