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!

Chicken Parmesan

Submitted by: Poppy

This is one of those recipes that comes out a little differently each time I make it. I tried to write everything down exactly as I made it last night, because it turned out really good!

Make the sauce. Just sauté garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil until softened, add 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp oregano. 

Put a large pot of water on to boil, salt heavily.

Prepare the chicken. I bought mine already cut thin. If not, slice the chicken breasts in half. Put in a large plastic bag and pound until thin. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Prepare the parmesan/bread crumb mixture. Mix 1 cup grated parmesan,1 cup panko bread crumbs, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp basil and 1 tsp oregano. Set aside.

Prepare the milk/egg mixture. Whisk together 1 egg and 1/2 cup milk. Set aside.

Assemble the chicken. First dunk in the milk mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Really press the crumbs into the chicken to get as much on as possible. Do this with all of the chicken and set aside.

Once water is boiling, add noodles and cook according to package. Drain and add to sauce.

Add 2 T butter and 2 T olive oil to a skillet, heat to medium/high. When it is hot, add 1 to 2 pieces of chicken, depending on the size. Fry until each side is golden brown and chicken is cooked through. Then, put on a cooling rack (placed on top of a cookie sheet), and place in 250 degree oven. Continue process until all chicken is cooked.

Slice mozzarella and put on top of chicken pieces. It should melt in the 250 degree oven. If not, stick under the broiler just before serving.

1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts
2 T butter
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper
1 c panko bread crumbs
1 c grated parmesan
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 egg
1/2 c milk
4 oz mozzarella

1 lb noodles
2 cans diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp oregano
2 cloves garlic
2 T olive oil
pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions listed above.

Valentine's Day Rice Krispies Treats

In honor of my sweet tooth and the upcoming holiday, I decided to stick with the classic- Rice Krispies Treats and put a twist on them. It's not creative but they're always good. I used the recipe off the back of the Jet-Puffed mini marshmallows bag.

• 5 1/2 cups or 1 10oz bag of Jet-Puffed mini marshmallows
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• Holiday sprinkles to decorate
• Cookie cutters

Melt butter in sauce pan add marshmallows until melted. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies Cereal stirring until coated. Using a spatula coated in butter or cooking spray press into pan coated with butter. (At this point I will butter my hands and press the mixture down evenly once it's cooled a little bit). Wait for treats to cool. Cut out treats with cookie cutters sprayed with cooking spray. Melt chocolate chips in microwave and dip treats into  chocolate.  Lay treat flat on wax paper and add sprinkles while still warm. Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day!! 

Spaghetti Pie

Submitted by: Poppy

First saw this recipe made on the Today Show, have made a few tweaks and now it is one of the girls' favorites! If you don't have a large pie plate, then try making it in any large casserole dish. 

Mix parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 3 eggs in a bowl. Add about 12 oz of cooked spaghetti noodles. Mix the noodles and cheese mixture. In a skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef and 1 clove garlic. Drain grease, return to skillet and add 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce (any kind). 

Then assemble pie. In a large pie plate or casserole dish, spray with non-stick spray, add 1/2 of meat mixture, then all of the noodle mixture, then the rest of the meat mixture. Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing. 

1 lb ground beef

1 garlic clove

12 oz spaghetti noodles (cooked)

1 1/2 c spaghetti sauce (any kind)

2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

1 c grated parmesan

3 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

Boil noodles and cook according to package. Mix parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 3 eggs in a bowl. Add about 12 oz of cooked spaghetti noodles. Mix the noodles and cheese mixture. In a skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef and 1 clove garlic. Drain grease, return to skillet and add 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce (any kind). 

Then assemble pie. In a large pie plate or casserole dish, spray with non-stick spray, add 1/2 of meat mixture, then all of the noodle mixture, then the rest of the meat mixture. Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.

Garbage Can Eggs

Submitted by: Poppy

Sometimes the simple ones are the best! My mom made these garbage can eggs for us on "garbage day," and yes, they also look like a garbage can lid! Couple keys to making these, don't be skimpy on the butter or the salt, and watch not to burn them (my specialty).

Garbage Can Egg

1 egg

1 piece of bread (I prefer white bread)

1 scant T butter

salt

Use a glass or round cookie cutter to cut the middle out of the bread. 

On medium heat, melt a good tablespoon of butter in a pan for one egg, or make lots at one time on a griddle and use lots more butter!  Place the bread in the pan, soak up some of the butter and flip it over right away. Then move it around to soak up the rest of the butter, then add egg, and salt. Flip once the bottom side is toasty and golden. 

It is done when the egg is done to the desired doneness and the bottom is toasted. If the pan is big enough, toast the round middle piece while the egg is cooking. If not, throw it in the pan awards and toast it then. Place the lid on top. 

Simple, tasty and I wish I had made more than one! 

Yum. 

Chicken Enchiladas

Submitted by: Poppy

Easy, yummy, creamy! These are not my husband's favorites, because he's not a big fan of cream cheese. He is out of town, SO, we are having them tonight! My daughters and I love these.

This is my sister's recipe and they always taste better when she makes them, not sure why? Until she can make them for us again, we'll have to settle with mine.

8 medium sized Flour Tortillas

3 Chicken Breasts (can use rotisserie chicken!)

2 small cans Green Enchilada Sauce (or 1 big one)

1 can Diced Chiles (not jalapeños, unless you like them HOT)

1 package Cream Cheese

3 cups shredded cheese (I used a mix of Monterrey Jack and Cheddar)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Cook chicken in a large skillet, doesn't need to be browned, just cooked. Once cooked, add cream cheese and chiles. 

Spray a 9 x 13 pan, and add 1 small can of enchilada sauce. Then spoon the chicken mixture into tortillas, roll, and place seem side down in pan. Continue until all the chicken mixture is gone. Top with the other can of enchilada sauce and press down to make sure all tortillas are covered. Cover with shredded cheese. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly. Enjoy!