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Easy Microwave Candy

You´re not gonna believe how easy and fantabulous these are; some of you know them by Texas Millionaires and some by Turtles. Whatever you call them, your friends and family will call you for more!! This is a recipe of a friend from the former Themestream days, Belinda Mooney.

Yield: about 16 (little more if made smaller)
Ingredients:
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1-1/2 cups pecan halves
28 caramels (unwrapped)
2 tblsp whipping cream*

Microwave half the chips in a glass bowl at HIGH for 1-1/2 minutes, stir after 1 minute. Remove from oven and stir until smooth; cool until slightly thickened. Drop
chocolate onto a waxpaper-lined baking sheet, smoothing into 16 ea. 1-1/2" circles. Reserve remaining chocolate. Arrange 4 pecan halves on to each circle (to look like turtle legs :o); chill until firm.

In another glass bowl put caramels and cream; microwave at HIGH 2 minutes or until caramels are melted; stir after 1 minute. Let stand 4 minutes or until slightly thickened. Spoon caramel mixture evenly over pecans. Microwave remaining chocolate at HIGH 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds (you might want to add a drop or two of cream to make smooth); quickly spread over caramel mixture. Refrigerate until firm. In colder weather, you can cover with wax paper and firm naturally.
P.S. hide some away for yourself...before they are all eaten!!!

Note: *You can substitute milk or even water for the cream...but why not be decadent and use cream ;o). Also, be sure the bowl for melting caramels is large enough, the caramel mixture could bubble over.

For more of Belinda´s recipes, check out my links...her´s is "Dinner´s In The Freezer"...

Save ´ripe´ bananas

Don´t throw away those over-ripened bananas! Peel them, wrap individually in plastic-wrap and store in freezer bags until ready to use for...banana pudding or banana-nut bread!

Cranberry Sauce

Your very own cranberry sauce; make ahead an chill.
Serves 8 to 12

2 cup water
2 cup sugar
2 (12-ounce) package cranberries, picked over and rinsed
4 tsp coarsely grated orange zest
1/2 cup orange juice (not concentrate)

In a 3-qt. saucepan on medium heat, combine water and sugar, heating until sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil, but do not stir; boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add cranberries and simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Skim top of the sauce (and discard), then add orange zest and orange juice, stirring to combine. Cool and chill in refrigerator, covered, until ready to use.

Note: when selecting cranberries, be sure they are firm to touch. During season, cranberries can be ´cheap´; buy extra packages and freeze (up to 1 year)for later use.

Sausage Brunch

This is especially a good brunch recipe for an OctoberFest celebration!

6 eggs, beaten
1 cup whipping cream
3/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
----dash of pepper
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheese, any of your favorite
1/2 lb. smoked sausage or Polish Kielbasa, chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

Combine first five ingredients, mixing until well blended. Add 3/4 cup cheese, sausage and green pepper. Pour mixture into greased 8" square baking dish. Bake at 350 deg. for 45 minutes (or until eggs are set). Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and continue baking JUST until cheese is melted.
This recipe serves 4-6 people. If you are having a large group, double recipe and use a 13" x 8" baking dish. Same oven temp., same timing.

Serve with potato pancakes (sour-cream side) and hot spiced applesauce.

*Intro to fun foods

Summertime (or anytime) is ideal for making/eating simple, fun foods. Try making these simple, finger sandwiches using whole wheat breads:

-spread bread with cream cheese, then add washed and sliced cucumber.
-spread bread with butter, add watercress or cilantro.
-spread bread with dressing choice, sliced tomatoes, and halved olives.

You can cut off crusts (option), then cut in slender finger pieces. Just be sure to make plenty! Kids, young and old, will love these ;o)

Ham rolls

Ham rolls are easy to make and a tasty finger food; you´ll need equal amounts of:
sliced deli ham (square pieces) and
thinly sliced swiss cheese

mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, or Dijon mustard (your choice)
green onions for each roll

Start with a slice of ham; thinly spread on mayo, Mir. Whip, or mustard; top with sliced swiss cheese and 1 green onion (at edge); roll up and secure ´roll´ with toothpick. If not served immediately, cover and chill in fridge.
Note: grocery deli can slice your ham or cheese to right thickness; or purchase in package.

E-Z crockpot bar-b-que

Low heat, high taste...
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb boneless chuck steak, 1 1/2 inch thick
1 clove minced garlic
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dry or prepared mustard

Directions:
Cut the beef on a diagonal (across the grain) into one inch wide slices; place meat in crockpot. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, pour over the meat, and mix. Cover and cook on Low for 3 to 5 hours.

German Potato Pancakes

Good anytime, but would go wonderful with the ´sausage brunch´ recipe I have in another recipe tip.

Pancakes

2 eggs, beaten
1 small onion, grated
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
6 medium potatos (approx. 2 lbs.) peeled
2 Tblsp. flour
1/4 cup oil.

Combine in a large bowl: eggs, onion, salt, pepper and nutmeg; mix well. Shred potatoes, pat dry with paper towels and immediately combine with egg mixture (this prevents discoloration). Sprinkle in the flour and mix well. Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium heat. Drop mixture by heaping spoonfuls into the oil. Cook first side until crisp and golden brown (about 5 mins.), then turn and cook about 5 more minutes. Serve with applesauce as a side and sour cream for ´dollop´.
For a variety, add 1 heaping spoonful of horseradish to the applesauce.

Potato salads #2

To retain flavor and nutrients in your potatoes, always cook with skins still on. If you prefer taking skins off, it is earier done after cooking! BTW, save the cooking water for use as soup base or liquid for nutritious and moist breads.

How to cook frugally for one-#1

Cooking frugally for one: invite friends for dinner, fix large pot roast, plenty potatoes, carrots, and plenty of gravy. Utilizing a large roast allows for two or three meals for ourself later in the week. Slice some of the roast and heat in some gravy for open-face hot-roast beef sandwich; serve with left-over potatoes mashed, and some green peas.

Flavorful pot roast

To make your pot roast more flavorful...whether oven-baking or slow cooking - try this: brown roast in butter with a little garlic salt sprinkled on meat before cooking.

Food-splatters in microwave

To avoid splattering food in your microwave oven, place a coffee filter over the plate/dish/bowl. Handy when you don´t have a lid!

Save time & effort

Always keep on hand the quart-size, sealable freezer bags. When you cook any type of dry beans or black-eyed peas, cook the whole 1 lb. bag and freeze the extra for later meals (handy when company comes). Be sure to ´squeeze´ out excess air before sealing.

Keep shelled-nuts fresh

If you buy shelled nuts in bulk, keep them fresh by placing in tightly sealed freezer bags and freeze...for up to two years! Refrigerator - 10 mos.

Microwave Potatoes Au Gratin

We´re keeping it ´Kool´ and easy!

1 package (16 oz.) frozen southern-style hashed brown
potatoes, thawed
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of potato soup
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a 1-3/4-quart shallow microproof casserole, combine potatoes, soup, sour cream, and 1/2 cup cheese; mix well. Use COOK (high) cycle, cook 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, stirring once during cook-time.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and let stand 3 minutes, or until top-cheese is melted.

And it´s g-o-o-d!

Brew a good cup of tea

Always start with very hot water for the best brewed tea; substitute a hard candy in lieu of sugar, i.e. mint or lemon drop!

Unroll plastic wrap easier

Darned plastic-wrap is hard to unroll and won´t tear good! Well, let´s solve these problems by...keeping the roll in the freezer! Much easier to handle when cold.