Wednesday's words of encouragement

"You can do it." —Coffee

In the kitchen on Thursday: Decadent Mac n' Cheese

1/4 C. butter

1/4 C. flour

1 lg. can evaporated milk

1/3 C. milk

1/4 lb. each of American, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Colby Jack cheeses

2 boxes elbow noodles

Cook the noodles according to the box. Melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Then add the milk. Cook for 3-5 minutes until mixtures thinkers. Add Cheeses and stir constantly until they are melted. Toss with the cooked noodles until they are all coated. Makes plenty for a Superbowl get together. Serve hot.

In the kitchen on Thursday: Banana Walnut Muffins

As easy as peeling a banana....

1 Yellow or Vanilla cake mix
3 medium bananas (very ripe)
1 egg
1 Tbsp. Milk
1/4 C. or 1/3 C. chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350. Mash the Bananas and mix all ingredients together, except the walnuts with an electric mixer for 2-3  minutes. Stir in the nuts. Pour into 12 lined muffin cup pan. Bake for 25-25 minutes. Allow to cool. Can serve warm with butter or cream cheese.

Tip: I take very ripe bananas and freeze them. When I have three I defrost them and make these.

In the kitchen on Thursday: Classic sugar cookies

2 C. flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 C. Butter (1 stick), softened
1 C. Sugar
1 Egg, beaten
1/4 C. Milk
1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375. Cream softened butter and sugar. Mix in the egg. Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk. Add in the vanilla. Form the dough into a ball and put in the freezer for 30 minutes. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 inch and cut with cookie cutters. Place on greased cookie sheets 2" apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool.

(From the Settlement Cookbook originally published in 1903 and last published in 1995.)

In the Kitchen on Thursday: Corny Muffins

1 Jiffy Corn Muffin mix
1 sm. can creamed corn
1 Tbsp. Milk

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased or lined muffin tim. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Makes 6 (and can be doubled for 12).

In the Kitchen on Saturday, finally....delicious chocolate

Easy Chocolate Cake

1 box chocolate cake mix
3/4 C. Ricotta cheese (or sour cream or softened cream cheese)
3 eggs
1 C. milk

Preheat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased Bundt pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Allow to cool in pan. Remove from pan and store in a cake saver or on plate covered with plastic wrap. Slice and serve with whipped cream and fresh berries.

This just in...a cook book for FREE

All the recipes from the blog last year are available in one Pdf, so you can make them throughout the year (healthy waffles, sweet sugar cookies, baked tofu and Bok Choy, etc.) and store on your bookshelf. I have one on my shelf despite it being over crowded with books from my antique cookbook collection (I have one from 1851).

So click the link below.....
http://www.scribd.com/doc/197791528/From-My-Blog-In-the-Kitchen-on-Thursday-Recipes-2013

Happy cooking and eat-up!

Tuesday's Tip: Heat water for coffee

For the past two mornings, my daughter (age 8) has made me a cup of coffee in my travel mug which is so sweet of her even if the coffee is cold, since she didn't heat the water (She said"I figured the water was still hot.")

(P.S. A second tip. just say to your child, the "blank" is delicious because it pays to sweeten things every now and then.)

Tuesday's Tip

Clean out your refrigerator once a week to avoid food spoiling and/or molding. (I cleaned the fridge today and found gone bad leftover Sushi rolls—what a waste!)

In the Kitchen on Thursday: Healthy waffles for the kid in you...

Whole Grain Waffles

1 C. While flour
1/2 C. Wheat Flour
1/4 C. Wheat Germ
2 Tbsp. ground Flaxseed
1 Tbsp. Chia seed
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 1/2 C. Milk
1/3 C. Sunflower or Grape Seed oil
1 egg
a pinch of salt

Mix all dry ingredients together. Whisk together the egg an milk. Slowly add and mix the dry ingredients into the wet. Allow to sit for a few minutes before ladling into the waffle iron. When finished cooking place waffles on a cooling rack. Waffles can be stored in an air tight bag in the fridge or frozen. To reheat place in a toaster oven at 350 for 10 minutes. If frozen, reheat for 15 minutes.

(Disclaimer: My 8-year old daughter and her friend did not like them. They prefer waffles from a mix.)

It's individual.....

This picture proves that everyone has their own opinion and the right to express because I personally think an Oreo is a classic.