Coconut Macaroon Nests

Submitted by: Poppy

Perfect little Easter treat! Recipe comes directly off the back of the Bakers Sweetened Coconut bag, with one little change. I like almond flavor, but 1 teaspoon is a bit overbearing. Next time I make these, I'd reduce to 1/2 - 3/4 of a teaspoon. Also, if it's not Easter, these would be so good if dipped in chocolate and then in crushed almonds, or put an almond in the middle of the nest.

1 pkg. Sweetened Coconut (14 oz)

2/3 c. sugar

6 T flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 egg whites

1/2 - 3/4 tsp almond extract

3/4 c chocolate chips

bag of m&m's or mini chocolate cadbury eggs

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In large bowl, mix all ingredients until well blended. Drop by large tablespoons onto a greased baking sheet (or use parchment paper, my favorite). A cookie scoop works well, spray with non-stick spray before scooping. Make a little well in the middle of each cookie, to form a nest. Bake for 18-20 minutes and then let them cool on the baking sheet. 

Once cookies are all baked and cooled, pipe melted chocolate onto each one. Any kind of chocolate will work; I used semi sweet chocolate chips, melted in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Then transfer to a large ziplock bag, cut a small hole in the tip of the bag and pipe! Last, add an egg (cadbury mini chocolate eggs are my favorite). Have fun! 

Zuppa Toscano (Soup)

Submitted by: Poppy


You know that creamy, brothy, sausagey, kaley, potatoey (okay, I'll stop) soup at the Olive Garden. I made a version of it tonight for my mom and I. Come to momma, it is really good!! It was pretty heavy on sausage, which is fine with me, a bit too much for my mom. So, depending on how much you like meat, adjust the recipe accordingly.

1 lb HOT Jimmy Dean Sausage

1 box chicken broth (32 oz)

1/2 onion diced

2 cloves garlic

pinch of red pepper flake

3 - 4 big russet potatoes sliced (like a thick potato chip)

2 stalks of kale chopped (remove the rib)

1/2 cup heavy cream (up to 1 cup if you like it really creamy)

salt and pepper to taste

Brown sausage, onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a soup pot. Drain grease. Return to pot and add 1 box of chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a simmer until potatoes are cooked. Add chopped kale and heavy cream. Simmer until kale is wilted, about 5 minutes. Eat and enjoy! 

No bake energy bites

These little treats are my indulgence these days. They are very easy to make with lots of variation and no baking required. I added chopped almonds to these for some crunchiness! Pinterest has many variation ideas. 

Here's what you'll need

• 1 cup Oats (old fashioned)
• 2/3 cup Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 2 tbsp honey 

Mix ingredients together and chill in fridge for about 10 minutes until the mixture is easy to roll into balls. Once bites are rolled into balls put them back into fridge and eat when ready. Can't get any easier :)

Swedish Rice

Submitted by: Poppy

This one comes from my mom's side of the family and can be found at most family dinners. I'm not sure why it is called Swedish Rice, but the name doesn't matter, because it is so doggone good!

1 c whipping cream

1 qt whole milk

scant 2/3 rice

1 beaten egg

2 tsp vanilla

2/3 c sugar

In a saucepan, heat cream and milk until almost boiling. Add rice. Cook for about an hour on low heat, until the rice is tender, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, vanilla and beaten egg. Stir quickly so the egg doesn't scramble! Cook for about 5 minutes longer, stirring often. Pour into a casserole dish or ramekins and sprinkle with cinnamon. It will set up as it cools. 

I like to eat this at room temperature, but is good refrigerated, too. 

Taco Chili

This is one of my mom's recipes that I love. The first time I made it was the first Halloween with my husband and he loved it. Now it's a new Halloween dinner tradition.

• 1 can of undrained Kidney Beans
• 1 can of undrained Pinto Beans (I had some uncooked beans soaked overnight then cooked in the crockpot)
• 1 can of undrained White Beans or Great Northern Beans
• 1 can of undrained diced tomatoes
• 1 can of undrained corn (I used frozen corn)
• 1 lb of hamburger
• 1 packet of Taco Seasoning
• 1 packet of Ranch Dressing
• 1 jalapeno (I usually don't use this but Mike likes the spice)

In a pan cook the hamburger and jalapeno. Add the taco seasoning packet. In a stockpot add the cans of beans, corn and tomatoes (undrained). Add the cooked hamburger. Add the Ranch Dressing packet. Let simmer for about 30 minutes. (I find that the longer it simmers the more the flavors are absorbed).
Enjoy!!

Steak Tacos

Submitted by: Poppy 

One of the best parts of living in California, was the delicious Mexican food. There was a Taqueria in Ripon, CA that served the best little tacos ever. This is my attempt at recreating them. You know, nothing will ever be as good, but these little suckers are pretty close!

I forgot to take pictures of all the ingredients and steps! Next time ...

2 - 3 steaks
salt and pepper
2 T vegetable oil
10 - 12 corn tortillas (depends on how much meat is used in each taco)
feta cheese (or queso fresco)
cilantro
lime
1 batch of Poppy's salsa

Cut the steak in small pieces and put in a bowl. Add about 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and 2 T vegetable oil to the meat and mix it to coat all the steak pieces. Heat a skillet to high and add steak in small batches. It will cook quickly and brown nicely. If the pieces look like they are burning, rather than browning, then turn the skillet to med/high. Transfer steak to a bowl, after each batch is cooked.

Assemble the tacos. Heat the corn tortillas in a pan or on a griddle, just unit they are softened. Put tortilla on a plate, layer with meat, cheese, salsa, cilantro and squeeze lime over the whole thing.

Eat immediately!

Apple Cake

Submitted by: Poppy

This is my mom's recipe and may be (one of my) favorite desserts of all time (that's saying a lot because I LOVE dessert). Apple cake just feels like home.

Sometimes it comes out easy to cut and serve in squares, sometimes it is more like apple pile. Either way, it is delicious!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 c sugar
1/2 c shortening
1 egg
1 c flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3-4 finely diced apples

Mix sugar, shortening and egg together. Then add flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Batter will be stiff. Add apples and it will be rather thick cake batter. Pour in a greased 8 x 8 pan.

Bake for about 40 min (will be turn a dark brown color and will be moist). Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream ... Yum!