strawberry shortcake

Ingredients
2 cups cake flour
1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter
1 large egg
1/2 cup heavy cream and more for brushing
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
(which I replaced with brown sugar)
4 cups strawberries, hulled and slice
1 can of whipped cream

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 F. Mix together the flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and mix only until the mixture forms tiny, coarse crumbs. In a bowl, whisk together the egg and the heavy cream. Pour over dry ingredients and mix until the mixture is moistened. Spoon out the dough onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or foil. The mounds should be 3 inches wide and 3/4 inch high. Brush the top of the shortcakes with heavy cream and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake until the shortcakes are a light gold brown. While the shortcakes are baking, brush 1 cup of strawberres with a fork in a bowl. Add the remaining 3 cups of berries and 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Mix well and refrigerate. When the shortcakes have baked, transfer them to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Carefully slice the shortcakes horizontally in half and spoon berries onto the bottom half. Top with whipped cream and cover with the shortcake tops

south african chicken pie

this is one of my favorite dish's I had in South Africa this year. It's great for a family and hearty and warm.

ingredients:
1 - 5-6 pound chicken
1/2 teaspoon mixed pickling spices
1 tablespoon salt
2 medium onions, peeled, halved
4 carrots, peeled, halved
2 ounces butter
6 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup white wine
Salt, pepper
2 egg yolks
4 tablespoons lemon juice
3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
4 ounces Danish ham, sliced thinly
Pie crust dough
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water
In a stewpot, place the chicken, spices, salt, onions, and carrots, and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. Strain the broth and reserve. Cut the chicken up into bite-sized pieces. Slice the carrots and reserve.

In a saucepan, heat the butter over moderate heat. Add flour and stir well, forming a roux. Cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly, then add 3 cups of the reserved chicken broth, the wine, salt and pepper. Stir until thickened slightly. In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks and lemon juice together until frothy, then add to the sauce. Beat well, and continue cooking until sauce thickens more. Remove from the heat. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a 4 quart deep-dish baking pan, place the chicken uniformly on the bottom. Arrange the hard-boiled egg slices on top of the chicken, and then top with the ham slices. Spread the reserved carrot slices, then cover with the sauce.

Roll out the pie crust, and lay it over the baking dish. Press along the edge firmly and trim excess. Score in several places to allow steam to escape. Brush dough with egg. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees F and bake 30 minutes longer. Crust should be golden brown.

banana nut bread

this is the perfect solution to the too ripe banana problem and smells amazing. just bake and put on a little butter, pour your self a glass of milk and relax...mmmm!

1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
1/3 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1 egg well beaten
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine bananas, oil, sugar and egg. Add flour, salt, soda, baking powder and cloves. Blend. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.

If you have a blender, just put bananas, sugar, oil and egg in the blender and puree together. Add salt, baking powder, soda and spices to puree. Pour into measured flour and stir in nuts.

steak marinade

in my family, we love our meat and especially steak. this recipe will make your steak delishious with every bite!

1 (10 oz) can orange juice
10 oz. bottle soy sauce
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 can water
1 tbsp. A-1 sauce
10 steaks

Place steaks in marinating dish or plastic freezer bags. Pour in marinade. Mainate fot three hours, turning steaks over every 1/2 hour. Make sure steaks are two-thirds covered.

eclair cake

my cousin mindy and I love this recipe so much that we came home one day from a walk and almost cleard the entire thing. it's so simple and delicious and in my opinion almost better than the actual pastry!

1 (1 lb.) box graham crackers
2 sm. pkgs. instant French vanilla pudding
3 1/2 c. milk
1 (9 oz.) container Cool Whip

Butter bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan, line with graham crackers. Mix pudding with the milk. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Blend in Cool Whip. Pour half the mixture over graham crackers then place second layer of crackers over pudding. Pour remaining pudding mixture over and cover with more crackers. Refrigerate for 2 hours then frost. Serves 12 to 14.

frosting:

2 pkgs. Nestle chocolate, premelted (Baker's (unsweetened premelted baking chocolate flavor)
2 tsp. white Karo syrup
2 tsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 tbsp. milk

Beat all ingredients until smooth; spread over cake. Refrigerate 24 hours.

soft pretzels

who doesn't love pretzels while watching sports, movies or anytime really...these are so easy!

2 packages dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour

soda solution:
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tsp. soda

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add salt and flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth. Cover and let rises 15 minutes. Divide into 8 poritions (16 for smaller pretzels). Roll each pience into narrow ropes and shape as pretzel. Dip in soda solution. Sprinkle with kosher salt. If desired, brush with butter as they come from the oven. Enjoy!

coconut rice

this is one of my favorite side dishes to various types of chicken and fish. It's simple and sweet. you will love it.

ingredients
Coconut Rice
2 cups jasmine or basmati rice, uncooked
1 can (14 ounces) coconut milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped, fresh parsley


In a pot with a tight-fitting lid, combine the coconut milk, water, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir, making sure sugar dissolves. Add the rice and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook for about 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with the chopped parsley. Serve.

seven layer salad

My mom made this salad often growing up for parties and special family dinners. It's a chunky, meaty salad and the dressing goes perfectly with the bacon!

ingredients:
1 pound bacon
1 large head iceberg lettuce - rinsed, dried, and chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas, thawed
10 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white sugar
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside.
In a large flat bowl, place the chopped lettuce and top with a layer of onion, peas, shredded cheese, cauliflower and bacon.
Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sugar and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle over salad and refrigerate until chilled.

toll house pie

an easy recipe that everyone loves. It tastes like a giant chocolate chip cookie. Go all the way and serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream or fresh whipped cream

2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

in a mixing bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the flour and sugars and beat until blended. Blend in the butter. Stir in the chips and nuts. Pour into the pie shell.

Bake for 1 hour. Serve warm or cooled completely

swiss chicken

this recipe is so simple and perfect if you need a quick meal during the week. it goes great with rice or pasta and with all it's saucy, cheesy goodness it makes a perfect meal for the winter!

ingredients:
4 large chicken breasts
8 slices swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

preheat oven to 350 degrees. cut eat piece of chicken in half and place in baking dish. place one slice of swiss cheese on each piece of chicken. mix water and cream of chicken soup together and spread on top of chicken. sprinkle evenly with bread crumbs. bake for 35-40 minutes and viola!