Thursday, July 22, 2010

Egg Roll Wraps

EGG ROLL WRAPS

2 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 c. ice water
Cornstarch

Sift flour and salt into a large bowl. Make a well and add eggs and water Stir with a fork until dough holds together and leaves bowl clean. Turn out onto lightly floured surface, knead until smooth - about 5 minutes. Cover dough with the bowl and let stand for 30 minutes. Don't expect the dough to raise, it's only resting.

Divide into fourths. Dust pastry board with cornstarch. Roll each fourth to a 14 x 11 inch rectangle. Cut into 3 1/2 inch squares. (The cornstarch prevents them from sticking together). Makes 24.

Ham Fried Rice

Ham Fried Rice


2 Tbsp. oil
1/2 cup sliced green onion (regular onion works fine too)
1 C. Ham or bacon
3 Cups rice, cooked (if it's chilled it doesn't stick together as much)
1/4 C. soy sauce
2 eggs
1 C. frozen peas

Directions:
1) Saute onions and ham in oil until onion is soft
2) Add rice to the pan and mix well
3) scrape all the mixture to one side so you have one side with the bottom of the pan showing. Pour soy sauce there. hold the pan at an angle over burner so only soy sauce is cooking. Let the soy sauce bubble for about a minute. You may think it's burning but its not. This step is important for getting the right flavor.
4) stir rice mixture and soy sauce together
5) make a hole in the middle of the mixture and scramble the eggs inside it. When eggs are cooked mix them in with the rice mixture.
6) Add the peas and warm them through.

I know I made it sound sorta difficult, but it's really not. Give it a try and you'll see!

Egg Rolls



Ingredients
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1/2 lb ground lean pork
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1/2 medium onions, minced
* 2 green onions, finely chopped
* 5 cups cabbage coleslaw blend
* 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
* 1 tablespoon soy sauce
* salt
* pepper
* 15 egg roll wraps - or follow this recipe to make your own like I did.
* water

Directions:

1. Heat oil in skillet.
2. Sauté garlic and onions until tender.
3. Add pork and sauté until browned.
4. Add coleslaw blend and stir-fry on high heat about 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and add seasonings, and salt and pepper to taste.
6. To assemble, place 2 tbs filling near corner towards you. Then fold over left and right sides. Dampen edges of the corner that is away from you, and finish rolling.
7. Deep fry at 350°F (or just use a fry daddy), until golden brown.
8. Drain on paper towels and enjoy!
9. These can also be frozen and fried later. Some people like a dipping sauce for egg rolls. But these are so tasty, they really don't need one.

Strawberry Freezer Jam

I always thought that people who made jam must really have a lot of patience, skill, and overwhelming essence of Supermomness. Turns out that even I can make strawberry freezer jam! Anything requiring a canning jar is a little intimidating to me. Though I'm starting to feel more comfortable, but I still feel like quite the novice. Anyway, make some freezer jam -- it will make you think you're as awesome as your own mother. Luckily I have a chest freezer so I can make lots. The other day I made 15 pints of the oooey, gooey, Holy-cow-that's-a-lot-of-sugar yumminess!


NO COOK FREEZER STRAWBERRY JAM

1 qt. strawberries
4 c. sugar
1 box Sure-Jell
3/4 c. water

Prepare containers and fruit:

Wash and rinse with boiling water and drain. Use 1 to 2 cup glass or rigid plastic containers with tight fitting lids.

Have fruit at room temperature. Wash and drain well. If using food processor, take care not to puree fruit. Use exact measure of prepared fruit; extra fruit can affect sets.

Remove caps from berries. Thoroughly crush fruit one layer at a time. Measure 2 cups into large bowl. Measure exact amount of sugar (4 cups). Add sugar to fruit and stir thoroughly. Let stand 10 minutes. Mix 3/4 cup water and contents of Sure-Jell in small saucepan.

Bring to a full boil, boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir into fruit and continue stirring for 3 minutes. (A few sugar crystals will remain.) Ladle quickly into prepared containers, filling to within 1/2 inch of tops.

Wipe spills with a clean damp cloth. Cover at once. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Store in freezer. Small amounts of unfrozen jam or thawed maybe covered and stored in refrigerator up to 3 weeks. Makes approximately 4 3/4 cups.

This recipe will almost, but not quite fill up 3 pint jars. I made 5 batches to get me 15 pints.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

4 Layer Pie

I've heard this called many things, (my favorite being "Girdle Buster"), but my family has always called it 4 Layer Pie. I guess that shows how terribly creative we are. But it tastes awesome no matter what you prefer to call it!



4 Layer Pie

Layer 1: 1 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 sticks margarine or butter
1 Cup pecans - diced
Mix all together and press into the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
I'll admit,I usually just buy 2 crusts (graham cracker, chocolate or Oreo all work great) instead of making this layer.

Layer 2:
8 oz cream cheese
2 C. Cool Whip
2 C. Powdered Sugar
Mix together well.

Layer 3: 2 small or 1 large chocolate pudding mixed as directed on the package.

Let pie set in refrigerate and then add layer 4.

Layer 4: Cool Whip on top.

Take this to your next family reunion and I guarantee they will invite you to come back!

Tip: Tomato based leftovers

Tip #7: Storing tomato based leftovers.

Do you hate it when your storage containers (I will always want to call them Tupperware even though I've never owned any actual Tupperware) start looking nasty and are impossible to clean. Be sure to spray your container with cooking spray before putting any tomato based leftovers in them and they will look nice and new for a lot longer. Also, teach your husband not to put them in the microwave. I almost have mine trained. Unless I'm not around to catch him at it.

Strawberry Mousse Pie

Strawberry Mousse Pie


1 Graham cracker crust (or make your own)
1 packet unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
2 Cups strawberries - hulled and sliced
1/4 cup extra fine granulated sugar
1 Cup heavy cream - chilled
3 Tbsp. powdered sugar

Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a saucepan; let stand 1 minute to soften. Stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved (about 1 minute) remove from heat.

Place berries, sugar and gelatin mixture in a blender. Puree. Pour into bowl. Chill until mixture mounds when dropped from spoon. About an hour.

Beat cream and powdered sugar in a chilled bowl until soft peaks form. Stir 1/4 of cream into strawberry puree to lighten mixture. Fold in remaining cream. Pour into crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Tip: Hulling Strawberries

Tip #6 -- Hulling Strawberries
You can buy gadgets to hull strawberries with or just slice off the green tops, but here's a better tip. Use a normal drinking straw and poke it in the bottom pointy part of the strawberry and push it through til the green top comes off. Kids love to help with this.

Chicken Breast Supreme

I think the name of this recipe is sorta silly but with so many chicken recipes out there I guess you have to get creative. It is "supremely" good though. Sorry, no picture. We were too hungry and just dug right in without taking a picture.

Chicken Breast Supreme


6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 envelope dry Italian Seasoning
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 container of chive and onion cream cheese

Place chicken in sprayed 9X13 pan. Sprinkle with dry Italian dressing. Cream together the soup and cream cheese until smooth. Pour over chicken. Bake at 375 for 1 hour. Serve over rice or noodles. This recipe also works great in a crockpot.

Super Yummy Meatloaf


Why does meatloaf have such a bad reputation? It doesn't have to be dry and disgusting. I made this and my kids gobbled their plates clean, even Drake who doesn't like anything!
Super Yummy Cream of Mushroom Meatloaf

Mix together:
1 lb. ground beef, raw
1 egg
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. Ketchup
1 Tbsp. Mustard
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup green bell pepper - chopped
Salt and pepper

Put Meat mixture in a greased bread loaf pan. Pour 1 can of cream of mushroom soup over the top. Don't dilute the soup with water or milk. And don't try to use light or reduced fat soup, it doesn't work as well. Poke a few holes so the cream of mushroom can soak down into the meat.

Bake at 375 for 1 hour.