August: Potlucks!

August Theme: Potlucks. What do you take with you?

Friday, August 29, 2008

Breakfast Crepes

These are an absolute family favorite around our house. Growing up, we had crepes almost every Saturday morning. Just thought I'd share!



1 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
¼ tsp salt
3 T melted butter
3 T sugar
3 T oil
Mix milk & eggs in a blender. Add all the rest of the ingredients. Heat a skillet and cook the crepes one at a time, turning pan to coat and make the thin pancakes. If the batter is too thick, add a little more milk.

Family Favorite Toppings:

Yogurt
Strawberry cream cheese
Whipped Cream
Powdered sugar
Frozen berries
Fried bananas

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole


I made this once and forgot to post it, so I'll play catch-up. It's one of Dave's favorites. (The picture has half onions on one side....if you're wondering=)


5 ½ cups mashed potatoes
(about 4 lbs. uncooked or 8 servings instant)
½ cup milk (if doing instant, omit and go by pkg. directions,
or if you want it a little less thick)
1 pkg. (8 oz.) reg. or low-fat cream cheese
1 cup reg. or low-fat sour cream
1 ½ tsp. garlic salt, or to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more if you want)
½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 8 slices)
2 stalks green onions chopped *if desired*

Place first seven ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat on med-high until potatoes are smooth and creamy. Spoon mixture into a 13-in.x9in.x2in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. (I have a microwave bacon cooker which drains the fat, or nuke it in the microwave between paper towels on a plate.) Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 15-30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Then sprinkle with green onions, if desired.
**(To make it easier on myself, I like to use kitchen shears to cut the bacon in tiny pieces and the green onions. I also prefer using instant potatoes, it's easier, and instead of adding the salt to the instant potatoes, I just substitute garlic salt instead. Sometimes when using instant, I stir everything all together in one pan using a heavy duty spatula, or beaters.)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Orange Julius

Many of you probably have this recipe but in case you don't, or you forgot how yummy and refreshing it is, here you go. These are great on a hot day. It is also fun to experiment with different kinds of juice.

6 oz. (1/2 of a can) frozen orange juice concentrate
1 c. milk
1 c. water
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
8-10 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients except the ice cubes in the blender. Add the ice cubes on by one and blend until smooth. Serves about 4.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Cinnamon Streusel Quick Bread

This isn't really summery but it is a good treat. For me, it satisfies the craving for cinnamon rolls with way less work and way less fat. I've included my own little changes in parentheses to make it even healthier.

2 c. flour (I use 1 cup whole wheat)
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c. oil (you can use applesauce for all or part of this)
2 eggs
1 c. sugar (you can substitute in some applesauce here too)
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 c. buttermilk (I often use regular milk or plain yogurt instead)
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan. Combine all ingredients and beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour half of the batter into the pan. Prepare streusel topping (Combine 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 T. softened butter) and sprinkle half over the batter. Pour on the rest of the batter and top with remaining topping. Bake for about 45 minutes.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Basil Tomato Soup


I know this has nothing to do with summer, except that I ate it during the summer and it was delicious!

Basil Tomato Soup
Favorite's Recipe
5 strips bacon, diced
1 rib celery, chopped
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 red pepper, seeded & diced
1 green pepper, seeded & diced
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped (divided)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes
2 chicken boullion cubes
1 cup half and half

In large soup pot, cook bacon. Drain all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Add celery, onion, and carrot and cook 2 minutes. Add peppers, half of the basil and garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Add tomatoes and simmer over medium head for 5 minutes. ADd boullion cubes and stir to dissolve. Transfer soup to blender and puree in batches, then return to soup pot. Add half and half and remaining basil. Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Serve with toasted garlic or cheesy bread.

Favorites



So this is my new favorite cookbook, correctly titled, "Favorites: A Collection of Favorite Ivory Family Recipes". I discovered this book at a friends house I was staying at. I wanted to copy so many of the recipes, that I had Paul drive me to the make-a-wish foundation in Utah to buy myself a copy! I know I'm a dork, but seriously, it's dang good food. I've only had two things to eat at my friends house, but both of them I've craved ever since I've eaten there. So I'll share a recipe or two from here, correctly giving credit where credit is due. Enjoy!