Fajita Seasoning Mix (in a pinch)

Thank You to Busy Cooks for this great recipe.

Make your own fajita seasoning mix using this easy recipe. 

If you are simply going to rub the mixture on steak, chicken, 

pork, or seafood before grilling it, omit the cornstarch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 2-1/2 tsp. crushed chicken bouillon cube
• 1-1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. cumin

Preparation:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into small glass or plastic container, seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place. Makes the equivalent of 3 packets of commercial or purchased Fajita Seasoning Mix.

AGA Cast Iron Range

This seems like a practical way to bake, a lot less space than those double ovens 

and a lot more cuter 

(is that a word?)  

Aren't they positively yummy?

You can get your very own here!

K, they're a little spendy over $5,000.00...Youv've gotta be really in love.

At 24 inches wide, it may be small in stature, but it's big on performance and style. This dual-fuel range features four versatile gas burners, one conventional oven with an integral broiler and one convection oven. And of course, it's made with that classic Aga design available in 15 delicious colors. As a free-standing range it brings the versatility of dual-fuel cooking into any kitchen. For 2 Oven, 3 Oven and 4 Oven Aga owners, it provides additional cooking surfaces by attaching directly to the left hand side of either model. Or, it can be placed in a separate location in the kitchen.

Over $9,000.00

Love it!

The Inside Story

1. Insulated Covers: Those twin insulated covers are the great Aga hallmark. When closed, they`re just gently warm to the touch. Open them and both hot plates are instantly ready to cook.
2. Boiling Plate: A high heat that can boil water faster than most electric kettles. It`s large enough to hold three average sized saucepans at once.
3. Heat Source: Once an Aga is up to operating temperature just a trickle of energy is all that`s needed to keep it there. You can choose from natural gas, propane gas, electricity or oil.
4. Simmering Plate: Again holds three average sized saucepans. It also doubles as a griddle.
5. Roasting Oven: This oven can take anything up to a 13kg/28lb bird. It is also used for grilling and doubles for baking.
6. Baking Oven: Featured in every 3 or 4 oven Aga. Like all Aga ovens the cast iron interior holds in its heat tenaciously, so don`t be afraid to open the door and take a peek at progress.
7. Simmering Oven: Using this versatile oven in conjunction with the hotter oven and hotplates is the key to Aga cooking simplicity - and its wonderful flavors.
8. Warming Oven: Featured on every 4 oven Aga. Keeps cooked food warm without drying it out, ideal for entertaining.
9. Warming Plate: A valuable general purpose surface standard on every 4 oven Aga. 

Need a dishwasher?

Got about $2,500.00 kickin around?

Yep, they have fridges too!

Over $5,000.00...

Over $12,000 smack-a-roos!!!

But D.I.V.I.N.E.!!!!

Weck Canning Jars

I have done a lot of canning over the years, but I'm sure I would've had a lot more fun canning in these jars. Or at least it probably would taste better...right?

These beautiful jars make everything look better anyway.

     

http://www.weckcanning.com/index.htm

Chocolate Scotcharoos

Here is the original recipe.

First layer:  (This layer is good all by itself,  I usually half it and just put it in a bowl.)

1 C Karo syrup

1 C sugar

Put in a pan and mix together and cook until it boils and add:

1 C Peanut butter

Add:

6  C Corn Flakes (this has a crunchier texture)

May add Rice Krispies or pour it over Popcorn...it's very good and quick.

Push it into a 9x13 pan.  

Top layer:

1/2 (12 oz) bag chocolate chips 

1/2 (12 oz) bag butterscotch chips

Put in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave, and smear on top and let it set.  You can put it in the fridge to set the chocolate, but it does make the peanut butter layer harder to cut. 

Very Rich and Addictive.

Food Storage Friday / Mom's Peanut Butter Granola

This is a feel good comfort food, as it is something my mom made for my bros and me growing up.  Y.U.M.


I double this recipe for my family of 8

2 T canola oil
1/2 C chunky peanut butter
Mix together then add:


1/3 C packed brown sugar


Then Add
3 C oats to the peanut butter mixture. (I add 3 C oats and 3 C Rice Krispies)


Cut it in until the peanut butter mixture is all broken up and has a mix of oats with it...these chunks are the best part.


Spread onto baking sheet. (I use two sheet cake pans for my double batch). Bake at 300* stirring maybe once, and bake for 15 to 20 mins or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and add raisins or craisins...serve with milk.

KID APPROVED!

Easy Strawberry Jam

This is an easy no cook method, using this pack of Ball Brand No Cook Freezer Jam

Just follow the directions on the back of this envelope.

In a large bowl mix up the Freezer Jam Pectin and 1 1/2 Cups sugar


Then hull your strawberries, clean them then put them in the Food Processer and blend them up and measure out about:


4 Cups Strawberries (which is abt 2 1/2 cartons of strawberries)
Add the strawberries to the sugar/pectin mixture and mix it well. 
Put it in freezer containers, or if you are gonna eat it right away the fridge works too.

Chicken Enchalada Lasagna

This is a good way to use your leftover chicken sauce from you Hawaiian Haystacks!!


I say Lasagna, because it is the basic Enchalada recipe but instead of rolling them into individual burritos, the tortillas are layered with the sauce.


Chicken Sauce:


2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Milk
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 can (28 oz can) green Chile Enchilada Sauce
(or to taste)
8 ozs shredded cheese (reserve some for the top)
1-2 Cups diced Cooked / Canned Chicken
diced green chilies (optional, depending on how much heat you want)


Tortillas
I used corn tortillas.
I found a bag of corn tortillas under $3 with abt 80 tortillas in it (4.58 lbs)


Set oven at 350*.  Mix this all together and spread about 1 cup of this on the bottom of a 9X13 pan and start layering tortillas then sauce, repeat, ending with the sauce on the top....I put Chips on top of the sauce with the left over cheese on top of that.  I would recommend adding the cheese and chips about 5 mins before it's finished baking. Bake for 30 mins...or until bubbly. 
As you can see it's a keeper...the more cheese you add the higher the approval rating!! Needless to say I had about 3 bites and that was my calorie limit for the evening.

No Peek Chicken and Rice

1 C uncooked rice
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 can of water
1 cut up chicken

Bake in a 9x10 dish.  Add rice to dish and 1 cup0 water.  Mix soups and 1 can water together.  Pour over rice and water.  Place chicken on top of the rice preceding.  Sprinkle onion soup mix on chicken.  Cover very tightly with tin foil.  Bake at 325* for 2 1/2 hours.  Don't Peek!

Dutch Babies/ German Pancake / Puff Pancake

I fell head over heels for this at a potluck yesterday. I have never had a German Pancake this tasty before. It is just so custardy. Wikipedia compares it to Yorkshire Pudding. But beware, it does have an eggy flavor. So it was a hit to my kids that like eggs but, the others...well, they tried it at least.

When this comes outta the oven it is all puffed up above the sides of the pan.  As it cools down it deflates.

The center is a yummy custard-like texture and flavor.

This crazy-haired beauty (hey, it was morning) is my picky girl and she ate the whole thing. But like I said before liking eggs makes a big difference in liking this dish.

Put 1/4 C butter in a 10" Cast Iron skillet or 9x13 pan and put it in the oven at 425* to melt. I suggest you warm your pan up and then add the butter so it doesn't burn.

6 eggs

3 C milk or half and half (or cream is even more rich) (I used 1/4 C powdered milk w 3 C water)

1 1/2 C flour

1/2 t salt

(you may add 1/3 C sugar and 1/2 t vanilla)

Mix well adding a little flour at a time to the wet mixture to make it easier to blend better. Then pour it into your pan of butter that was in the oven. Bake at 425* for 17 mins. It will be puffy when it comes out of the oven. It settles into its yummy custard state as it cools.

You may serve it with powdered sugar, and/or syrup, or berries, or jelly.

You can add a variety of things to it like:

~diced ham

~gr. onions

~shredded cheese

~apple slices

~cinnamin

Kid Semi-approved

French Style?!?

My friend asked for some help in her kitchen/ dining room and really likes the style of this sweet little cafe' and cupcake/ eatery Twenty five Main 

Yelp

There aren't very many photos on their site, but I found these mouth watering photos from Yelp. 

 The frames painted out in turquoise hanging on the wall,
with like color cuckoo clocks.

 

 

 

The cute trees painted on the wall.

 

I don't know what this style would be called,
but it has a french feel...

While I was trying to get ideas for Inger's home
this is what I came across....

 

Love the BIG CLOCK 

Decor Addict

A little Toile and Trompe l'oeil

notice the trompe l'oeil on the little clock sitting on the dresser.
Four Walls and a Roof

 

 

I don't remember where this pic came from

but, I love the different frames painted the same color.

Grab a nice vintage sign

Four walls and a Roof


Add this lovely fabric to the mix somewhere....
Please give me a reason to use this Fabulous Joel Dewberry Fabric

It doesn't show it but there is a deer head with antlers
I think it's positively Y.U.M.M.Y.

Bubble Up Pizza

This is really easy and another great alternative to pizza.

1-2 cans of cardboard biscuits sliced up, use scissors
Spaghetti sauce
Pepperoni sliced up
grated cheese

May use: red and/or green bell peppers diced

In an 8X8 Pan layer sliced up biscuits, spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, and cheese, then repeat with a second layer. Bake at 375* for 15 min.

Kid Approved!!!

Barn Doors and Parade Homes= Home Run!!!!!

I first fell in love with this beauty from Whisper Creek Cottage....ooooohhhh yeah!!!

eclectic bedroom design

Houzz

Oh and this one!!!!

modern living room design by new york architect Rodriguez Studio Architecture PC

Houzz

So naturally when I saw a real life one...I fell in looooove all over again....y.u.m.!!!

You can see more of the interior here.   This home was my favorite Parade Home by FAAAR!!!! 

Dump Chili

Very easy and fast

Bag of frozen pre-cooked Ground Beef (you cooked it up and froze it right?)
Can of any bean of your choice:
I used:
1 can Kidney
1 can Navy
1 can Corn
1 qt bottle of stewed Tomatoes
1 sm can diced gr. Chilies

Dump it all in a pan and season with taco seasoning or chili pdr or cumin or italian seasonings. Cook for 10 minutes to blend the flavors and serve it up with shredded pepperjack or cheddar, and tortilla chips or corn bread.  Saltines are good too!!

French Fries

For Breakfast..... It just changes everything for that picky eater who won't eat hashbrowns.
Take your favorite potato
slice it up
spray with olive oil
sprinkle with: Seasoned Salt, Chili Pdr, Garlic Pdr....what ever
Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins.

Breakfast Parfait

Layer any kind of fruit your family likes!!

Peaches
Pineapple
Banana
Vanilla Yogurt (I used lemon)
Raspberries

May use: Craisins (or raisins, or dates)
Blueberries
Sliced almonds
Mandarine oranges
Strawberries

Pita Pizza

This is a great alternative to pizza, I got it from The Friend magazine.

Pitas
Spaghetti sauce
Pepperoni
Shredded cheese
Stuff it in the pitas and put in the oven for 350*
KID APPROVED!!!!