Christmas 2018

Another year to be grateful for life.  God is so good and whatever your faith you must remember that life it a gift so don't take it for granted.

My yearly family dinner is always the best.  My children and grandchildren have grown and it's been a long time since those days of having small ones around so excited for Santa.  I'm now looking forward to grandbabies. Such a wonderful thought!

We had a wonderful few hours having fun and laughing like crazy.  Sometimes at my expense but they love to tease me.

Below is a recap in photos.  A little whipped today and will take it easy.  I realize I am getting older by how my body is aching but I do love doing all of it so I'm not complaining.  Merry Christmas and Happy and Blessed New Year 2019.



Every year I try to do less and enjoy more but I’m the energizer bunny when the holidays come.  I start early with a good list and do what I can do in small jobs.

12/26/18

Coconut Dream cookies

•  Today it seems my computer is not handling the margins correctly so I'm going to get right to the point and share this very good coconut cookies recipe. Enjoy!

•  3/4 Cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup of firm coconut oil
• 1 cup flour
•  1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt 
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup sweetened coconut

• Preheat oven to 325º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat.  Cream together the coconut oil (or shortening) and sugar until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
•  In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix into the shortening and sugar mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and coconut flakes.
• 
  
• Drop cookie dough by the tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1½-inches between each cookie. Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookies have turned lightly brown and are set. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.




Adapted from Add a pinch . Com

Chicken Roll-ups with pasta sauce!

One of my favorite recipes especially for Christmas.


A great meal for the family and if you are having guests this will please even the picky eater.  Add a healthy salad and they'll love it!  I'm telling you these a fabulous!  and you can easily duplicate this with little effort!

Today I'll be using lasagna noodles as a base for making Roll ups...

 In a large bowl combine cooked chicken(approximately 2 cups shredded or chopped) or  a large can of chicken that has been drained.  Add approximately 1/2  cup Ricotta cheese, a beaten egg, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, about 1/4 to 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 1 tsp. dried parsley,  and 1/4 cup grated Italian cheese.

Cooks suggestion:  cover chicken breasts in salted water and bring to a boil.  Cook until chicken is tender.  Approximately 30 minutes or more depending on amount of chicken you are preparing.  Cool completely and shred or chop chicken.

  Cook lasagna noodles according to directions and drain. Rinse slightly and pat dry.  I cooked 6  lasagna noodles and spread the filling over the par cooked noodles and rolled..See illustration..

#1

#2

#3

Top roll-ups with a large bottle of jarred sauce(your choice) or homemade (mine is homemade meat) if you have it and you have the components for one great meal.  Bake for 30 minutes covered  at 350 degrees, remove cover and bake until cheese is melted.  Add a salad and it's ready to serve.... 

Happy Cooking!

10/17/12
12/18/12
12/21/15

Country style spare ribs

Easy weeknight dinner.

I love spareribs and this is one of the ways I prepare them.

Enjoy!

Approximately 1 lb. country style pork spare ribs trimmed.
1/2 + bottle Sweet Baby Rays honey barbecue sauce

Grease a cookie sheet with vegetable oil.  Turn oven to 325.  Place spare ribs on cookie sheet and cover.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes covered.  Remove cover, top spare ribs with Barbecue sauce and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Remove from oven.  Finger licking good!

Cole slaw is a good side or unsweetened applesauce. Yummy!

Serve with fries.  Mine are homemade.

3 large skin removed potatoes cut into slices. Rinse well and dry with paper towels.  Place 1/3 cup vegetable oil on a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 450 degrees .  Place cut potatoes on cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Turn over with spatula and bake 30 to 40 minutes more or until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and whatever seasonings your family enjoys!

Note:  you can leave skins in potatoes if you scrub them thoroughly.

Stuffed Italian Style Meatloaf!

Updated photos!

Today I will be re-posting one of my if not my favorite, meatloaf recipes.  I have passed it on to a lot of friends and everyone seems to enjoy this version. 

Note to all:  If you don't want to make homemade stuffing you can use any brand stove top  stuffing    It will work fine as a substitution.

Note:  The below photo is of my Dad and I and younger brother..Brings back good memories!!!

Dad, Gary and I

Dad loved stuffed meatloaf and honestly when Mom didn't have the time she'd use Stove top stuffing instead of her homemade stuffing . (Don' hesitate to use box stuffing. .It does speed up your meal).  Today I did her recipe but put it in a baking dish (stuffing first and then topped it with meat mixture. (She used to put her meat mixture on the bottom of the dish and then put her stuffing and then top it with the remainder of the meat.. I decided to try it a little different. It baked quickly, about an hour or a little more.  My meat was under 1 lb.  Delicious!   Super Supper or Delish Dinner Meal.  Nice for entertaining a small group.  Serves 4 medium portions.  Enjoy!  Happy Cooking!!!!

Ingredients for meatloaf:
 

¾ to 1 lb. ground pork (beef or turkey can be substituted)

1 egg

½ cup bread crumbs (regular or seasoned) I used garlic herb

1 small onion grated

1 clove garlic minced

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. dried parsley

pinch pepper

½ cup milk

Topping:

1 to ½ cups marinara sauce (jarred or homemade) I used my homemade easy recipe)

¼ cup mozzarella for garnish

Meat Mix

In a medium bowl place pork, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, parsley, milk, salt and pepper.  Mix together.  Set aside

Baked to perfection.

Top with sauce, Romano cheese and mozzarella.

Try to flatten meat mixture enough to comfortably cover stuffing.

Butter 8x8 baking dish  and place stuffing

Top with your favorite pasta sauce.

Stuffing

1/3 cup Italian style bread (broke in pieces)

1 egg beaten

½ to ¾ milk

dash pepper

½ cup Italian cheese grated

¼ cup shredded mozzarella

1 small onion chopped

1 stalk chopped celery

4 tablespoons butter (salted)

In a pan melt butter, add onion, celery…Saute until translucent

In a large bowl put broken bread pieces, 1 egg beaten, ½ cup milk, cheeses.  Set aside.   Add slightly cooled butter mixture.  Mix together with hands until bread in well moistened.. Set aside

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease an 8 x8 inch baking dish with butter or spray with cooking oil..  Place stuffing mixture in dish.. Top with meat mixture.. Bake 1 hour or until browned.. Take out of oven top with Marinara sauce, Romano cheese and shredded mozzarella.  Bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until Marinara is warmed and cheese is melted and bubbly.


Happy cooking from my kitchen to yours,

copyright 2012 I Like to Bake and Cook!

2/19/12

9/2/13
7/14/14

12/3/19