Cranberry Buttermilk Muffins

ingredients

1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup flour (white or whole wheat)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup nuts, chopped
1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries, chopped

 

directions

Beat egg, buttermilk and oil with a whisk. Add remaining ingredients and stir just until blended. Spoon into muffin cups prepared with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes, testing with a toothpick.

Hamburger Soup

Ingredients:
- 3/4 lb ground beef (cooked)
- 1/2 onion
- 2 carrots
- 1 1/2 sticks of celery
- 1/4 cup barley
- 1/2 can of petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 can tomato soup
- 1 bay leaf
-1 1/2 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Brown meat. Add to pot (remove grease).
2. Chop Vegetables. Add to pot.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer for at least 4 hours.

Lemongrass Soup

Broth:
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2-3 cups chicken stock
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp palm sugar (I usually substitute brown sugar)
- 2 stalks fresh lemongrass, wash and chopped in chunks. (If using dry- punch it up with extra lime juice and zest, if your forced to go this route.)
- 3 red shallots, peeled and chucked (I often substitute 3 smashed garlic cloves plus a bit of onion)
- 2 coriander roots, scraped (I usually substitute a pinch of whole coriander seed plus a handful of fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves)
- 1.5 inch chunks of galanga root, chunked (ginger is in the same family but tastes  totally different- galanga TOTALLY makes the favor of this dish. Asian markets should have it. It freezes well too.)
- 3 Kaffir lime leaves, coarsely chopped. (You can substitute lime zest if necessary but it won't be as fragrant and complex)
-1 tsp chili garlic sauce (optional and kind of a cheat but often good.)

Chunks:
-1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1' pieces. (You can use breasts but thighs are juicer and tastier. 
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms (your choice- mix it up)
- 1-3 tbsp fish sauce. (This stuff is pungent- if you're not familiar add incrementally and tatste before increasing. But don't be turned off by the smell. It adds a key flavor that softens when you add it to the soup.)
- 1 can baby corn, drained and chopped (optional)

Finish:
- 1 tbsp lime juice (more if compensating - see notes above)
- 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1.2 cup grape tomatoes halved, or two plum tomatoes chopped. (optional)

Notes: This made the house stink for days but all of the men enjoyed it. :)

Apple Gorgonzola Salad

Ingredients:
- 8 oz of Romaine Lettuce, Chopped
- 1 Granny Smith Apple, Chopped
- 2 tbsp Gorgonzola Cheese, Crumbles (I put it on the side since I don't like cheese)
- 2 oz Walnuts, Chopped
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 c Italian Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette:
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp sal
- 3/4 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/8 cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic, chopped
- a pinch of black pepper
(Place in blender to mix)

Directions:
Toss well. Garnish with slices of apples. SO GOOD!

Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients:
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup dried bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup dry Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp parsley
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic salt
- 1 large pinch Italian seasoning
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 2 lbs chicken breast

Directions:
1. Cut chicken into cubes if desired.
2. In a bowl melt butter and mix in garlic cloves.
3. In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients.
4. Dip the chiken in the butter and then coat in crumbs.
5. Bake in oven at 450F or fry on stove top (which is what we do.)

Mini German Pancakes

Ingredients
1 cup milk
6 eggs
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest (optional)
1/4 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Blend first six ingredients (milk thru orange zest) in a blender.  Be careful to see that any flour clumps get well-blended.
2. Blend in butter a little at a time in order to temper the eggs.
3. Grease muffin tins well and distribute batter evenly between 24 tins (I did more like 18. Gimme Some Oven’s tins were slightly less than half-full.  I used a 1/4 cup measuring cup and filled it almost full.) Bake for 15 minutes, or until puffy and golden on top.
4. Served with your favorite toppings.

Notes
These are very similar to Mom Tobler's Hootenanny recipie. Deflated almost instantly. Be sure everyone is at the table before you remove them from the oven.