Favorite Ingredient Friday- St. Patty's Day Edition

Since my husband's family is Irish and into Celtic music, Irish Step Dancing and Irish food, I figured I would post a recipe of something I enjoy snacking on whenever we go to the local Irish Club to hear some of our favorite Irish musicians. Some people say that Irish Soda Bread can be very dry, but I love it especially when I put a nice glob of butter on it and enjoy it with a nice cup of coffee!


IRISH SODA BREAD

Ingredients
1. 3 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1 tablespoon baking powder
3. 1/3 cup white sugar
4. 1 teaspoon salt
5. 1 teaspoon baking soda
6. 1 egg, lightly beaten
7. 2 cups buttermilk
8. 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

For more Favorite Ingredients Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!


Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Baked Mac & Cheese
Stuffed Peppers
Chocolate Pancakes- Valentine's Day Chocolate Edition
Skyline Chili Dip- Super Bowl Edition
Cheesy Potato Soup
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Baked Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS
1. 1 (16 ounce) package macaroni
2. 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
3. 1 cup milk
4. 1 pound shredded Colby cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Place macaroni in a 2 quart casserole dish. Stir in cheese soup and milk until well combined. Sprinkle with shredded Colby.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

*Being a Catholic that doesn't eat fish during Lent is rough, but I manage by finding recipes of really good non-meat foods that are yummy! Either that or I'll just live on cheese pizza every Friday until Easter!

For more Favorite Ingredients Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Stuffed Peppers
Chocolate Pancakes- Valentine's Day Chocolate Edition
Skyline Chili Dip- Super Bowl Edition
Cheesy Potato Soup
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredient Friday

STUFFED PEPPERS
Ingredients
1. 1 pound ground beef
2. 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
3. 1 cup water
4. 6 green bell peppers
5. 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
6. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
7. 1/2 onion chopped
8. salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.Place the rice and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 20 minutes. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the beef until evenly browned.

3. Remove and discard the tops, seeds, and membranes of the bell peppers. Arrange peppers in a baking dish with the hollowed sides facing upward. (Slice the bottoms of the peppers if necessary so that they will stand upright.)

4. In a bowl, mix the browned beef, cooked rice, 1 can tomato sauce, garlic powder, and chopped onion. Spoon an equal amount of the mixture into each hollowed pepper. Pour remaining tomato sauce over the stuffed peppers.

5. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, basting with sauce every 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender.

For more Favorite Ingredients Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Chocolate Pancakes- Valentine's Day Chocolate Edition
Skyline Chili Dip- Super Bowl Edition
Cheesy Potato Soup
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredients Friday

Chocolate Pancakes

Ingredients
1. 2 cups flour
2. 3 teaspoons baking powder
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
4. 1 cup sugar (less may be used, to taste)
5. 1 cup milk
6. 4 teaspoon butter, melted
7. 2 eggs
8. 4-6 teaspoons cocoa

Directions
-Combine dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients and stir only until mixed.

Sauce (frosting):
1. 1/2 cup butter, melted
2. 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3. 1 teaspoon vanilla


Mix well. Spread on hot pancakes.

For more Favorite Ingredients Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Skyline Chili Dip- Super Bowl Edition
Cheesy Potato Soup
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredients Friday- Super Bowl Edition!

Skyline Chili Dip

1. One 12 oz. package softened cream cheese
2. One 13 oz. frozen Skyline Chili thawed OR one 15 oz. can of Skyline Chili
*For those of you who can't find sky line chili, use any hot dog chili, works good too!
3. 1/4 cup diced onions (optional)
4. 12 oz. Skyline shredded mild cheddar cheese

Spread softened cream cheese evenly on bottom of 9 x 13 microwaveable casserole dish. Heat chili according to package directions. Pour heated Skyline Chili over cream cheese. Sprinkle diced onions (optional) on top of chili. Cover with Skyline shredded mild cheddar cheese.

Conventional oven: heat at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.

Serve with nacho or corn chips.

For more Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Cheesy Potato Soup
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Cheesy Potato Soup

Ingredients
1. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2. 1 1/2 cups chopped onions
3. 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
4. 4 cups water
5. 8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
6. 15 slices American cheese - broken into pieces
7. 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8. 2 1/3 cups milk
9. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions
1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions and celery in the butter for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.

2. Stir in the water and potatoes, bring to a boil and then simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add the cheese and stir until melted.

3. In a separate small bowl, combine the flour and the milk and stir well until the flour is mostly dissolved. Pour this into the soup slowly, stirring constantly, until soup has thickened, about 5 minutes. Garish with parsley.

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Previous Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes:
Peanut Butter Cookies
Saurkraut and Pork Roast
Candied Nuts
Mom's fudge
Peanut Brittle
Beef Enchiladas
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Pecan Pie
Burrito Pie
Apple Crisp

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients
1. 1/2 cup butter, softened
2. 1/2 cup peanut butter
3. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
4. 1/2 cup packed brown suger, or 1/4 cup honey
5. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
7. 1 egg
8. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9. 1/4 cups all purpose flour
10. granualted sugar in a bowl

Directions
1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the granualated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and baking powder. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. If necessary, cover and chill dough until it's easy to handle.

2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in additional granualted sugar in bowl to coat. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten by making crisscrosse marks with the tines of a fork. Bake in oven on 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.


** This is my favorite PB cookie recipe and comes out of the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook.

For more Favorite Ingredient Friday recipes, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

SAUERKRAUT AND PORK ROAST

Ingredients
1. 3 to 4 lb. pork roast or pork ribs (either)
2. 1 lg. onion (chopped)
3. 1 tsp. salt
4. 1/2 tsp. pepper
5. 2 pts. sauerkraut

Directions
-Place meat in roaster. Place sauerkraut smothered over, salt, pepper and onions over top. 2 quarts water over. Bake at 325 degrees for 3 hours.

My mother cooks this every year on New Years, we've always heard that it brings good luck for the New Year. And we always serve it with mashed potatoes.

*For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Candied Nuts

-1 1/2 cups raw or roasted cashews, peanuts, whole almonds, and/ or pecans
-1/2 cup sugar
-2 tablespoons butter
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
1. Line baking sheet with foil. Butter the foil. Set baking sheet aside. In a 10 inch skillet combine nuts, sugar, butter and vanilla. Cook over medium-high, shaking skillet occasionally, until sugar beings to melt. Do not stir.

2. Reduce heat to low. Continue to cooking until sugar is golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove skillet from heat. Pour nut mixture into the prepared cookie sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

*This was anther recipe I made last weekend to add into my cookie/ candy tins. Very easy and yummy!

*For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Mom's Fudge

Ingredients
1. 3 cups sugar
2. 3/4 cup(1 /12 sticks) butter or margarine
3. 1 small can (5 oz) evaporated milk
4. 1 1/2 package (12 squares) Baker's semi sweet baking chocolate, chopped
5. 1 jar (7 oz) jet-puffed marshmallow creme
6. 1 tsp vanilla
7. 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
-Heat sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to full rolling boil in 3 quart heavy saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil on medium heat until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes. Removed from heat.

-Stir in chocolate and marshmallow creme until melted; stir in vanilla and walnuts.

-Spread immediately in foil lined 9 inch square pan. Cool at room temperature at least 4 hours. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

-Makes 3 lbs or 40 serving.


*This is the same recipe my mom has used for as long as I can remember to give out to family and friends around Christmas.

*For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

PEANUT BRITTLE

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2 cups raw Spanish peanuts
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. baking soda

Directions
Heat and stir sugar, syrup and water in a heavy 3-quart saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Add salt. Cook over medium heat to soft ball stage (234 degrees). Add peanuts at 250 degrees. Cook to hard crack stage (290 degrees), stirring often. Remove from heat.

Quickly, stir in butter and soda. Beat to a froth for a few seconds. Pour at once onto 2 well-buttered 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch pans, spreading with spatula. If desired, cool slightly and pull with forks to stretch thin. Break up when cold.

Makes about 1 1/2 pounds of brittle.

*I must admit to you guys that this is not the recipe I've used in the past. In my move from Ohio to Connecticut, I can't find the recipe I used in the past, but this one is the closest that I've been able to find. I just hope it comes out just as good!!!

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed WIth Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

BEEF ENCHILADAS

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 cup cottage cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 (6 inch) flour tortillas

Sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 medium green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
In a skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain. Combine with cottage cheese, olives, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place about 1/3 cup filling on each tortilla; roll up. Place tortillas, seam side down, in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. For sauce, saute the onion and green pepper in oil until tender. Add tomato sauce, green chilies, chili powder, sugar and garlic powder. Pour over tortillas. Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Snickerdoodle Cookies (Another craving of mine in the past week)

Ingredients
1. 1/2 cup shortening
2. 1/2 cup or 2 tablespoons sugar
3. 1 egg
4. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5. 1 cup or 4 tablespoons flour
6. 1/4 teaspoon salt
7. 1 teaspoon baking power
8. 4 tablespoons of cinnamon
9. 4 tablespoons of sugar

Directions
1. Cream the shortening, sugar and egg with electric mixer until smooth.

2. Sift flour, onto a wax paper, about 1 1/2 cup.

3. Measure flour, salt, and baking powder into sifter and sift over a small bowl.

4. Add the sifted ingrediennts into the sugar and shortening and egg mixture and mix well.

5. Add vanilla and stir again.

6. Dough should be soft and easy to handle. Add a little more flour (about a tablespoon or so) if dough sticks to your hands.

7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Set out cookies sheets lined with foil 8 combine suger and cinnamon into a small bowl and set out side

9. Roll pieces of dough into the size of a small jawbreaker. Roll the ball into the sugar cinnamon mixture. Place on a foil line cookie sheet, three across and five down. Place the rack in the middle of the oven.

10. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly brown. Cookies will puff up and then will flatten down and have a crispy top.

11. Let the cookies cool on the rack.


For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

To help celebrate my new founded pregnancy, I've decided to do recipes of things I will be craving and the first is my mom's pecan pie!! Also a great recipe for Thanksgiving!!

Mom's Pecan Pie

Ingredients
1. 3 Slightly beaten eggs
2. 1 cup of corn syrup
3. 2/3 cup sugar
4. 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
5. 1 teaspoon vanilla
6. 1 1/4 cups pecan halves
7. Pie Crust (mom cheats and buys premade)

Directions
1. Combine eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in pecans.
2. Pour filling into pie crust and place in oven.
3. To prevent overbrown of crust edges, place foil around egdes of pie. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes then remove foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.


To see more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, or to participate, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

Sharing Gifts From The Heart

Recipe for Spicy Oatmeal Raising Cookies ingredients in a jar
1. 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2. 1/3 cup sugar
3. 3/4 teaspoon allspice
4. 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
5. 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
6. 1 cup flour
7. 1 cup quick-cooking oats
8. 3/4 cup raisins
9. 1/2 cup walnuts

Instructions for jar:
1. In a 1 quart jar, pack brown sugar in bottom and make it as level as possible. Pour sugar over and level.
2. In small bowl, combine allspice, baking powder, baking soda and flour mixture over sugar. Level carefully, then tamp down.
3. Pour oats over flour and level. Sprinkle raisins on top and press down. Sprinkle nuts over raisins. Place lid on jar.


Instructions for baking:
(I usually print the baking instructions out on a pretty piece of paper and cut out card to look nice & crafty)
-1 egg
-1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (softened)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour contents of jar into large mixing bowl. Add egg and softened butter (or margarine).
2. Beat on low speed or mix by hand until mixture is thoroughly blended.
3. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to cooking rack. (Makes 2 to 2 1/2 dozen)

Icing (optional)
-1 cup powdered sugar, divided
-1-2 tablespoons milk
-1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1. In small bowl, combine powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla. Stir until smooth, adding additional milk as necessary until drizzling consistency is reached. Drizzle over cookies and let set.



*For more Sharing Gifts from the Heart or if you would like to participate, go to Kaffee Klatsch!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Burrito Pie

INGREDIENTS
1. 2 pounds ground beef
2. 1 onion, chopped
3.2 teaspoons minced garlic
4. 1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
5. 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers
6. 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
7. 1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce
8. 2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans
9. 12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
10. 9 ounces shredded Colby cheese

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 4 quart casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.
4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Favorite Ingredient Friday

Apple Crisp

INGREDIENTS
10 cups thinly sliced apples
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

*Another great recipe for this time of the year!!!!

For more Favorite Ingredient Fridays, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!

5 Ingredient Friday

Freaky Fudge

INGREDIENTS:
·12 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
·1 cup milk chocolate chips
·14 oz. can chocolate sweetened condensed milk
·2 Tbsp. butter
·Gummy worms or gummy bugs

PREPARATION:
In microwave, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and butter on MEDIUM for 2-3 minutes. Stir well. Return to microwave if necessary and continue melting on MEDIUM for another 2-3 minutes. Stir until smooth. Pour into greased 8" square pan, and top with the candy creatures, pushing them gently into the fudge. Chill until firm. Store well covered in the refrigerator.


A great recipe for Halloween parties!

I just found out that 5 Ingredient Friday will be Favorite Ingredient Friday from now on, so next week look for one of my favorites!

5 Ingredient Friday

One Dish Spicy Chicken Mac and Cheese

-1 (10 ounce) can tomatoes and green chilies, diced (rotel)
-1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
-1 (12 ounce) package macaroni shells and cheese
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions
1. Spray large skillet with cooking spray and saute chicken on medium-high heat for about 5 minute or until cooked through.
2. Drain liquid from tomatoes into a 2 cup liquid measuring cup and add enough hot water to measure 1-3/4 cups.
3. Add macaroni, tomatoes and the tomato liquid mixture to the pan and mix well.
4. Bring to boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 9 to 10 minute or until macaroni is tender.
5. Remove from heat and stir in cheese sauce from mac and cheese package and sour cream until well blended.
6. Sprinkle with shredded cheese on top and cover.
7. Let stand 1 to 2 minute or until cheese is melted.
-TIP: Reduced fat items can be used but I don't recommend nonfat.


**I actully was just online looking for new cassaole/ one dish recipes and came across this one, and since it sounds so yummy, I thought I would share it!

For more 5 Ingredient Fridays, go visit Overwhelmed With Joy!

Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style

Oven Baked Chicken Salad
-2 Cups of cooked chicken (shredded)
-1 cup chopped celery
-1/2 cup salted cashews (chopped)
-3 tbsp lemon juice
-1/2 cup chopped green peppers
-1 tsp salt
-1 cup mayo
-1/4 tsp sweet basil
-1/4 cup chopped pimento
-1/2 cup milk
-1 can french fried onions
-paprika


Directions
-mix all of the ingredients except 1/2 can french fried onions & paprika. Pour into greased casserole dish. Bake covered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and top with remaining onions & sprinkle with paprika. Bake 5 minutes longer uncovered.

Category: appetizer, side dish, or snack


For More Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style, go to Overwhelmed With Joy!