Country Fried Potatoes

When I cook breakfast I always make my potatoes. Everyone loves them they are sublime, I cannot make breakfast without them, I might get in trouble. My husband asked how I made them, I told him I couldn't tell him or he would never need me again. 

Ingredients

4 potatoes diced

1/2 onion (optional)

Garlic salt to taste

Pepper

tsp smoked paprika

1/2c water

2tbsp Olive oil

Method

Heat olive oil in pan add potatoes onions and spice. 

Fry until you have some good browning mixing along the way

Add water to pan

Fry until tender and crispy yummmmmmmiiiiii

Beef and Broccoli

My love loves Beef and Broccoli. I had some left over steaks frozen so I decided to try to make this Chinese favorite a try in my own test kitchen. Most recipes I looked at were all slow cooked. I really wanted to make a more traditional dish so research away I went and executed this dish I can call my own.

Ingredients
3 sirloin steaks frozen 

3c broccoli

1/2 onion

1/2c soy sauce

1/4c water

1/4c cornstarch

3tbsp sherry

1tbsp rice wine vinegar

1/2tsp chili oil

1tbsp better then beef bullion

2 garlic cloves minced

Pinch ground ginger

3tbsp brown sugar

1tbsp honey

Method
Mix all Ingredients except beef broccoli and onions. Cut frozen steaks thin. In a shallow dish take half of mixture and pour over beef to marinate. Marinate for 2-8 hours

Heat wok pan with oil and cook one layer of the beef on high browning on both sides

After cooking meat let sit on a plate while you cook steamed broccoli.

In pan cook steamed broccoli and onions till tender

Then add in all the meat and remainder of the sauce

Cook till it thickens, serve over rice and enjoy!!

Pancakes

I have finally conquered the pancake. here my friends is the perfect pancake. Enough said...

Ingredients

1c all purpose flour

1tbsp brown sugar

2tsp baking powder

1/2tsp salt

1c milk

2tbsp unsalted butter melted

1 large egg

1tbsp vanilla

Method

In a small bowl whisk together flour sugar baking powder and salt, set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together milk butter and egg. Add dry ingredients to milk mixture; whisk until just moistened.

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. For each pancake, spoon 2-3 tablespoons of batter into the griddle

Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst 1-2 minutes. 

Flip carefully with spatula. Cook until browned 1-2 min more.

Keep warm.

Serve with butter and syrup Mix in anything you wish to make a different pancake.

Hot Fudge Sundae Sauce

I really have a thing for fudge. Especially hot fudge. I recently was craving it so bad but couldn't get it. So finally I decided to make it for myself. I tend to love all that I create in my test kitchen. I browsed some recipes and finally put one together with ingredients that I had in the house and Mae what was truly the best hot fudge sauce I ever had. My little one doesn't like hot fudge but loved mine! 

Ingredients

2/3c heavy cream
½c corn syrup
1/3c dark brown sugar
¼c Dutch-processed cocoa powder
¼tsp sea salt
4oz bittersweet chocolate
2oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2tbsp butter
1tsp vanilla extract

Method 
In a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the cream, syrup, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt and half of the chocolate to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium-low or low maintain a low simmer, cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining chocolate, the butter, and the vanilla extract, stirring until smooth. 

Let cool for 20 to 30 minutes before using Store in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

To reheat, microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute until it's pourable but still thick.

EggNog

Christmas time at my Grandparents was the best time of the year, the food was plentiful and delicious. While my grandmother prepped the dinner my Aunt warmed and served her homemade eggnog. 

I found my Aunt Gwen's recipe in my grandmothers recipe collection. The eggnog is subtle and sweetened with my uncles honey. I believe they spiced it up with a little dark rum...

If you like a spicier eggnog then add some cinnamon and nutmeg or even rum.

Ingredients

6 eggs separated

1/2c honey

1c cream whipped 

4c milk

Method

Beat egg yolks till they are a light lemon color.

Add the honey and beat again. 

Blend in the milk

In a separate bowl beat egg whites till stiff but not dry, fold into mixture. Fold in whipped cream sprinkle with nutmeg. 

Heat and add rum if you desire. 

Black eyed peas

My mother always cooked black eyed peas on the new year, they are eaten for good luck. I decided to make them this year. Since I love to come up with my own recipes that is just what I did. And boy we can't stop eating these delicious beans. I don't think I can wait another whole year for these...

 

Ingredients

1 pound of dried black-eyed peas

2tbsp olive oil

1 ham hock, or ham bone

6 strips thick sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 sausages

1 medium onion, small diced

1 red bell pepper

4 garlic cloves, sliced 

1/2tsps garlic salt

1tsp freshly cracked black pepper

1tsp Tyme

1tsp basil

1tsp oregano 

1/2tsp cayenne pepper

Water to fill crock pot

2 bouillon  cubes

2 bay leaves

 

Rice

 

Method 

 

Put the dried peas in a large pot and cover with about 4 inches of water. Soak the peas overnight, then drain the water and rinse.

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the bacon Sear until the pork is browned on all sides, add bacon, onion,pepper sausage and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until the onion and garlic are lightly browned and carmelized.

At the crock pot add the salt, black pepper, cayenne Tyme, basil oregano and garlic powder. Add meat/ onion mixture

Pour water and drop in the bay leaves and bouillon, 

Cook in crock pot 6 hours or until beans are very soft. Serve over rice.