Tomato Macaroni Soup

We really enjoyed this soup.  Even my younger son had a few bowls.  It was VERY sweet.  I would prefer the sugar to be decreased however my husband liked it as is.  So, just a warning.  I left out the Worcestershire and it had plenty of flavor.  I browned the onion and hamburger and then through in the crockpot on high for about 4 hours.

Tomato Macaroni Soup
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/10/tomato-macaroni-soup-recipe.html


Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (can be left out if you want)
1 onion, diced
3 (15 oz) cans beef broth (about 6 cups)
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 cup ketchup
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 cup shredded carrots (optional)
3 tablespoons A1 sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked



Directions: In a skillet over medium high heat, brown hamburger and diced onions. Drain and set aside. In a large stock pot, mix add beef broth, diced tomatoes, ketchup, tomato paste, carrots, A1, Worcestershire, basil, garlic powder, and salt and pepper and cook over medium high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Add beef and onion and simmer for 10 minutes. Add cooked macaroni and serve. -

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Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

These came out ok.  I used apple instant oatmeal and I liked the flavor.  They were a bit crumbly and my bottoms burned a little so if I made them again I would reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.  I didn't use the nuts because I didn't have any.  I make them into 12 big cookies.

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
from Rachael Ray Magazine 


1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups instant cinnamon-spice oatmeal

3/4 cup shortening

1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup cold milk

Directions

1. In food processor, pulse first 5 ingredients until sandy. Pulse in nuts and milk until dough forms. Pat into 8-inch disc; cut into 8 wedges. Bake at 400 degrees on parchment- lined sheet, 12 minutes.

Cola Q Chicken

We didn't like this at all.  We love BBQ sauce  - especially Sweet Baby Rays but this just had a funny taste to it.  I didn't like the coke addition to it at all.  I used drumsticks to make it.  I don't think the 1/2 hour on high with the BBQ sauce really did much.  I think it should have been longer.  I won't be making again:(

4 – 5 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, thawed

One 18 oz. Bottle Sweet Baby Ray’s Cola-Q Barbecue Sauce {if you can’t find Cola-Q at your store, you can substitute Original Sweet Baby Ray’s Sauce}

1/2 Can Coca-Cola {approx. 6 oz.}

What You’ll Do:

• Cook chicken in crockpot on high for 3 hours {covered}
• After 3 hours, drain juices from crockpot
• Mix together BBQ Sauce and Coca-Cola
• Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on high for 30 more minutes

Cheesecake

I have both good and bad reviews on this.  This recipe is very similar to the cheese cake I usually made except it has less cream in it and the baking time/temp is different.  I have mixed reviews on this because although we liked it baked a little less, this clearly wasn't baked long enough because the middle was still a little underdone [on the recipe reviews, many people state this].  I baked in at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and then at 200 for another 55 minutes.  I then left it in the oven with the oven turned off for about 15 mintues.  It definetely needed longer.  Perhaps to raise the initial bake to 475 for 15 minutes as my other receipe does and then lower to the 200 would work.  Needless to say I would make this again but the baking time needs to be adjusted.

Cheesecake Supreme
from all recipes.com

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

5 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

5 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/8 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup of the white sugar, and the melted butter together. Press mixture into the bottom of one 9 or 10 inch springform pan.
3. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, eggs and egg yolks; mix until smooth. Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups white sugar, the flour and the heavy cream. Blend until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 10 minutes, then turn oven temperature down to 200 degrees F (100 degrees C) and continue baking for 1 hour, or until filling is set. Let cheesecake cool, then refrigerate.

Amish Noodles

These came out well.  Both kids ate them, they really aren't anything special but they do have a nice flavor to a plain noode.  And they were super easy as long as you have the 30 minutes to wait.

Amish Noodles
http://www.food.com/recipe/amish-noodles-223730

2 tablespoons butter

1 chicken bouillon cube

2 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth

12 ounces egg noodles

Directions:

1. In a large pan, brown the butter.
2. Add broth and boullion cube, bring to a boil.
3. Add noodles, bring to a second boil, cover and turn off heat. (leave pot on the same burner).
4. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times.

Baked French Toast Muffins

These were really good.  The kids loved the streusal topping.  I made them in standard muffin pans.  I used leftover french toast maple bread which added to the flavor.  I didn't have 2 hours to let them set so mine only sat about 1/2 hour.

Baked French Toast Muffins
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/baked-french-toast-muffins/

Ingredients:

1 loaf French bread, cut or torn into 1/2 inch cubes (about 12 cups of bread)
2 1/2 cups milk
6 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose Gold Medal flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Butter and Maple Syrup, for serving, optional

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.
2. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Add about 1 cup of bread cubes to each muffin cup. Carefully pour egg and milk mixture evenly over each muffin tin. You may need to press down on the bread cubes after you pour a little mixture and then pour more. Pour slowly or you will have a mess. Cover the muffins with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight.
3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To make the cinnamon streusel, in a small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together with your hands, until you have a crumbly mixture. Remove the muffins from the refrigerator and sprinkle the muffins evenly with the streusel topping.
4. Bake for 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Let muffins cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and serve with butter and maple syrup, if desired.

French Toast Swirl Bread

I have a recipe for french toast bread that I've made before, but I made a few revisions and it was DELICIOUS.  I made the dough in my bread machine on the dough cycle and baked in the oven at 350 for 35 minutes.  I think it could have used to have been baked a little longer but the kids were hungry and I had to get dinner in the oven [ internal temp was only 165 and it should have been closer to 200].

French Toast Bread

1 cup water
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp maple extract
2 cups bread flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
2 tbsp Land ' Lakes Cinnamon Sugar butter
1 tsp salt
2.5 tsp yeast
2 tbsp brown sugar

Put ingredients in bread machine and select dough cycle.

When completed, roll dough out and brush with butter.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and brown sugar.  Roll up jelly roll style and place in pan.  Cover and let rise about an hour or so until double in size.  Bake.  Yum...