Christmas Eve Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls bake up nice and full.  They are filled with raisins and brown sugar  and are oh so good!

                                              1 Tbsp. yeast

                                                 1 1/2 c. warm water

                                                1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar

                                                   1 Tsp. salt

                                                   4-5  cups flour

                                                    3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

                                                 1 egg, 

separated

                                                                    Filling 

                                                                3/4 c. Sugar

                                                             2 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon

                                                                2 tablespoons butter, melted

                                                                      1 Cup of Raisins

                                                                                     Icing 

                                                                         1 cup powdered sugar

                                                                              1 tsp vanilla

                                                                                  1 tbs milk

 Combine yeast, water, and sugar in large mixing bowl and allow to stand 10 minutes or until bubbly. Add salt, vegetable oil, and egg yolk (set white aside for later) and combine. Add 3 c. flour and mix well until combined. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough that barely sticks to your finger. Knead for another 2-3 minutes. Cover and allow to rise 1 hour 45 minutes. When the dough has risen,  roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Brush the dough with the reserved egg white to moisten it. Then combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the dough, drizzle the melted butter over that, and then top with the raisins

Roll the dough up and cut into 1 inch thick pieces putting into muffin pan as you go.  Allow to rise for 20 minutes more.

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for about 12 minutes.  Top with icing rite after you remove from pan.

Beautiful Christmas Cookies

  I went to a cookie swap recently and I made these jelly flower cookies.  They not only look great, they taste great too!

Ingredients

Strawberry jelly

1 1/2 cups softened butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 Tsp. vanilla 

5 cups flour

2 Tsp baking powder

1 Tsp salt

Royal icing

2 egg yolks

1 Tsp lemon juice

2 cups powdered sugar + enough to thicken to desired consistency 

( whip until stiff)

Cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  Add eggs and remaining ingredients.  Chill for at least an hour, overnight is best.

Preheat oven to 375 and roll cookies into 1/2 inch thick.  Cut using flower shaped cookie cutter.  

Using a large round marble ( or any round object small enough) press into center of cookie.  Place dallop of jelly into the center of the cookie.  Bake for 6-8 minutes.  Let cool completely.

Put royal icing into piping bag and outline each cookie!  

Everyone really enjoyed these.  They stay soft , chewy and really stand out!

Super Soup

This is my favorite soup to make in the winter months, especially if I am feeling a little under the weather.  It is packed with vitamins and makes you feel oh so good!

1 Can garbanzo beans

1 whole bunch of spinach

1 can crushed tomatoes

1 Tbs red curry paste

2 Cloves garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Shredded cheese ( I usually put Feta on it but I was out)

Mix ingredients and simmer, when hot pour into bowls and top with cheese.  This recipe is really easy and really good!

Rhubarb oatmeal cobbler

I love love love this recipe!!  It is so good, especially with ice cream. I have frozen rhubarb from the summer and  felt like baking something up.  

 

Crust

1  Cups rolled oats

1/2 Cup quinoa

1 Cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 Tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup Butter

1/4 Tsp vanilla

Filling

3 Cups chopped rhubarb

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 Tbs cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1 Tsp. vanilla

Combine crust mixture until crumbly and pat half of it into a greased cake pan.  Bring the contents of the filling to a boil and pour on top.  Top with remaining crust mixture. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Easy Refrigerator Pickles

2 Medium cucumbers

10 Cloves garlic

3 Thai peppers

1 Small onion

20 Sprigs fresh dill

1/2 Cup salt

1 Cup vinegar

2 Quarts water

Put 1/2 of the dill the garlic and onion in the jar.  Put spear sliced cukes in, than the peppers and the rest of the dill on top.  Bring the water, vinegar and salt to a boil until salt is dissolved.  Pour enough to fill the jar covering the cucumbers.  Let sit 2 days on the counter than 2 days in fridge.  Lasts 9 months to a year.

My husband and I tried one the same night and were pleasantly surprised!  

ENJOY!

OH MY DOG!!!!...........BONES

AHHHHH!!!

  I have never seen so many dog bones in my life!  Do you have a special pet that deserves something delicious this holiday season?  Get them COHO CRUNCHIES.  There smoked salmon snacks for your pups and cats!  My mother-in-law and I came up with a dog bone recipe containing real smoked salmon and all natural ingredients!  They are available at the Kodiak Island Smokehouse located on Millbay.  They have awesome Christmas gift packs available too!

Orange Cinnamon Pancakes

These Pancakes are so delicious, especially on a cold winter morning.  The aroma of cinnamon and orange makes me so happy!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4  Tsp baking powder
• 1 Tsp salt
• 1 Ttbs white sugar
•  1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup orange juice 
• 2 Tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 3 Tbs melted butter

Mix together ingredients and fry in oil.  Top with whipped cream and additional cinnamon

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

After Halloween all the pumpkins go on sale.....and I'm there to buy them!  Pumpkin cake, Pumpkin soup, Pumpkin rolls and and my favorite PUMPKIN SEEDS.  This year I wanted to make them a little different, so I did Cajun style!

Cajun Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds from one large pumpkin

2 ts. Chile powder

1/2 ts. Paprika

dash Sea Salt

Tabasco ( or any vinegar based hot sauce )

Soak your seeds overnight in salted water

 Drain them and pat dry.  Add 10 drops Tabasco and shake around, then add chile powder, paprika, and sea salt toss together.  Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

Great for munching!!

Munchies Delight

                        

These chocolate caramel cupcakes in chocolate shells are amazing!  The whipped cream mellows out the sweetness to just the right amount of perfection, and the shells make for no dishes!

Chocolate shells

Blow up 6 small balloons

1 box cake mix

1 quart whipping cream

1 can dulce de leche

White chocolate chips

Milk chocolate chips

Microwave milk chocolate until melted stirring every 15 seconds

(make sure its not too hot)

dunk the balloons half way up, let dry on wax paper then dunk in the white chocolate chips

let fully harden ( about 30 min)

Cupcakes

1 box chocolate cake mix ( make as directed) except let the batter rest 10 minutes before putting into a greased muffin tin.

While baking, whip cream with 1/4 cup powdered sugar.

When the cupcakes are cool cut them in half with a bread knife so as not to break them. 

Pipe dulce de leche between the cupcake then layer cream.  Put a dallop of cream in each chocolate shell and set a cupcake inside.  Pipe a dab of the dulce on top and top with cream. 

                                              

Smokey stuffed meatballs with homemade marinera

     I was recently in Wisconsin visiting family and I brought back cheese!!!  So stuffed meatballs it is.  I used a nice smokey mozzarella and white cheddar.  These meatballs are oozey goodness, and the marinera sauce is deliciously saucy.

Marinera Sauce

- 3 cans crushed tomatoes  

- 1/2 medium onion (diced)

- 2 tbs fresh parsley

- 1/4 cup red wine

- 1 clove minced garlic

-1 cup mushrooms ( optional)

- 2 tsp basil ( to sweeten it up a bit)

- salt and pepper to taste

-2 tsp garlic powder

Combine ingredients and simmer for 2-4 hours

Stuffed meatballs

- 1 1/2 # ground beef ( You can use any type of venison)

- 8 oz smoked cheese ( I used a mozzarella/white cheddar) Cubed into 6 equal pieces

- 6 slices bacon

-2 Tbs fresh parsley

-1 Tbs black pepper

- 1/2 chopped onion

- 1 egg

-15 crushed saltine crackers

- 1 Tbs ketchup or BBQ sauce

Mix all the ingredients except cheese and bacon.  Form into six equal balls.  Wrap each cube of cheese with a slice of bacon and insert into meatball and reform around it.  Bake at 325 for about an hour.

I like to serve this over bow ties, but any pasta will do.  I hope you enjoy!

Fall Food

  I was recently back home in Wisconsin for a couple of weeks and when I returned to the island it was cold and wet.  It had that wonderful fall smell.  The only thing I could think of was squash soup!  This recipe is super easy. You know you live on an island when you cant find fresh squash, so frozen it is.

-2 packages of frozen squash
- 1 cup whole milk
-1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 small onion chopped
- salt and pepper
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 clove garlic
- dash of paprika
 
Mix ingredients in large sauce pan and simmer on low.

Chocolate angel food with bananas

            Easy yumminess

- store bought angel food cake (cubed)

- Chocolate chips ( melted in microwave 45 sec)

Dunk each cube of cake in chocolate, place on wax paper and let harden.  Add banana and whipped cream.  

                                                                  

Chicken noodle soup and home baked flax seed millet bread

                                                    

With the last couple days being grey and cold I decided to make some soul food!  This bread is absolutely delicious.  The nutty flavor combined with the crunch from the millet makes this one heck of an awesome textured bread.

Bread

-2 cups wheat flour

-1 1/4- 2 cups white flour 

- 1 packet of active yeast

-1/2 cup millet

-1/4 cup flax seed

-1/8 cup butter

- 1 1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 cup warm water

1 cup very warm water

Combine yeast and warm water, set aside.  Mix ingredients and add yeast, knead together cover and let rise 30 min.  Punch down and put into loaf pan let rise until doubled (about 45 min) bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Reduce heat to 325 for 10 minutes more. 

Chicken noodle soup

This is a simple and easy recipe

-2 zucchini (sliced)

-2 cups chopped mushrooms

-1 cup broccoli

-handful fresh parsley

-1/2 box chicken stalk

- 2 chicken breast cubed

-1 can tomatoes

-2 cloves garlic

-4 cups water

1 cup frozen corn

- 1 box noodles

- salt and pepper to taste

Throw every thing in stock pot at same time bring to a boil for 3-5 min, reduce heat for 10- 15 minutes.  Enjoy with your delicious bread!

                                              

Rustic noodles with caprese baguettes

This dish is super easy to make and is a good vegetarian dinner

Rustic noodles

-2 eggs

-2 tbs milk

- 1-2 cups wheat flower

- 1-2 tsp salt

beat eggs and add milk,  combine flower until good dough consistency.  Boil until noodles float.

Sate mushrooms and fresh parsley in olive oil, add sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Caprese baguettes

- I used store bought baguette loaf sliced into 1/2 inch pieces 

-basil (chopped)

- olive oil

-grape tomatoes

- mozzarella cheese

mix basil, olive oil and salt and pepper.  Top each baguette with a slice of cheese, then tomato and drizzle olive oil mixture on top.

Easy peazy lemon squeezy!

-

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Blackened Halibut tacos and Bananas Dulce for desert!

Dinner tonight is halibut tacos!  I had left over halibut and got beautiful cilantro coming up so tacos it is.

- Cubed halibut
-Cajun seasoning ( I like Hot Daddy's)
-6 wheat tortillas
-1 bunch cilantro
-  small container sour cream
- 1 head cabbage ( I like using cabbage instead of lettuce for extra crunch!)
- 1 red onion( chopped)
- 1 tomato (sliced)
-1/4 cup shredded pepperjack cheese
- 1 can Herdez cesera salsa

Sear halibut on each side then lower heat and fry each side 5 minutes.  Fry tortillas and top with halibut and toppings.  Quick and easy.


                                                                       Bananas Dulce

I attended school in Mexico for a year and while there I discovered how delicious fried bananas are. This is my take on it!

- 2-3 ripe Bananas
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
- 4tbs Vegtable oil
- 2 Scoops vanilla bean ice cream
- Whipping cream

 Slice the bananas in small pieces.  Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. In a frying pan  heat the oil on medium heat, sate bananas ( bananas stick really easily so be careful not to burn ) add brown sugar and cinnamon reduce until  brown sugar is dissolved and is slightly caramelized.  Top ice cream with the banana mixture and whipped cream, drizzle on extra sauce.   This is cheap and delicious.  Its warm and cold and oh so good.

Coconut Carrot Cupcakes with coconut glaze and toasted coconut

I had coconut milk and toasted coconut left over from dinner last night so I decided to make cupcakes!  These cupcakes are not only delicious but super easy.

-1 box carrot cake mix ( subbing coconut milk for water) bake accordingly 

-1 can coconut milk

- toasted coconut

-1 stick butter

-1cup powdered sugar

*mix remaining coconut milk and powdered sugar together,  beat in one stick of butter until smooth.  It will be farely runny. (It's a glaze)

*dunk(it works best!) each cup cake then dip in toasted coconut!

No body will know its from a box...shhhhhh!

Coconut halibut with mango chutney and curried peas and carrots with jasmine rice

My husband recently rode the Tug boat to Larson Bay and flew back.  While he was there on his off time he caught some halibut!  So tonight I am going to make my favorite way to eat it!

Mango Chutney (since there is just two of us I am making a small amount)

-3 green mangos (cubed)

-1 clove garlic (coarsely chopped)

-1teaspoon cinnamon

-1/4 cup vinegar
-1 tbs curry paste

-small handful of raisins( I like them a lot so I tend to use a lot! )

-5 heaping tbs brown sugar

-pinch of sea salt

Sate ingredients together than add vinegar, bring to a rapid boil for about 8 min.  Cool then store in airtight container.  I like to make this in advance.  I tend to think chutneys get better after they sit for awhile.

 Coconut Halibut

1-2# halibut cut into 1 inch bites

-1 box tempura mix (make accordingly subbing coconut milk for water)

- 1 bag coconut toasted ( I like to toast my own, but you can buy toasted coconut)

Dunk each piece into tempura mix then roll in toasted coconut

You can then either bake these at 350 for about 15 min or my favorite ...DEEP FRY them

Curried peas and carrots
- carrots cut into rustic chunks
-1 tbs curry past or to taste
- 1bunch green onions or chives
- 1 can coconut milk
Par boil carrots, drain add coconut milk, curry onion and peas.  Cook until done

No sleep

  So last night was the first time I was unable to sleep in a long time.  For the last three months once I hit the bed I was out.  I sit there staring at my daughter and I suddenly realize I am not afraid of her anymore!!!  Do you know what I'm talking about?  That feeling of total shock and awe, you have no idea what your doing (not saying that I do now) but at least I am not afraid.  When she wakes up I embrace it now.  She needs a "freshy" maybe a little "booby" possibly we need to play "kicky Pants". Or  oh, you want me to run around signing Itsy Bitsy Spider while rolling my eyes and sticking out my tongue.  No problem! I think we got this down (knock on wood). Who knew how great it would feel doing all of those crazy things.  The overwhelming sense of joy I have for life now is utterly amazing.  I don't want to make it sound like my daughter is a hassle.  In fact she has the best temperament for a baby I have ever seen.  She barely ever fusses and when she does it's either two things; diaper change or she's hungry.  In that area I have been very lucky.  I'm just talking about that feeling when you finally fully understand ( or at least I think I do ) what this whole MOM business is about!

Dinner

So, I've decided that each night I am going to try to post what I made for dinner.  Assuming  I make dinner every night! Ha!  I am no Betty Crocker, I like to think of myself as a Martha Stewart in training.  I grew up poor so I am a very cheap person, but I love good food. Most of my recipes will be deliciously cheap, and having a three month old limits the amount of time I have to cook.  So most of them will be easy.  Quick, cheap and easy.  I like it and I hope you do. ( If there are any of you!)  If your interested check out my Sweet Recipes tab.  If not.....well then don't!

Is this it?

I can smell it in the air.....Fall is here.  To us people living on the Island it's slightly sad.  Did we even have a summer?  If we did where did it go?  How will we survive?  It saddens me to say that my neighbors and my sister in-law will be leaving.  Copping out more like it.  Were stuck here you should be too!!!!