Rocky Road Ice Cream

Rocky Road Ice Cream


1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

In a medium saucepan over low heat, cook and stir the condensed milk and cocoa until smooth and thickened.  Stir in the heavy cream, whole milk and and the vanilla.  stir until well blended.  Refrigerate until cool.

Put this mixture into the ice cream maker.  Add the nuts and marshmallows half way through the freezing process.



I love rocky road ice cream!  There are so many variations in the store.  One advantage of making homemade ice cream is that it can be made to your liking.  This one has a creamy, light chocolate flavor.  I love slivered almonds and lots of marshmallow in my Rocky Road and this recipe fits the T!

Shrimp and Crab Boil

 We try to do this for our New Years Eve dinner each year.

Shrimp and Crab Boil Recipe
2 pounds snow crab legs
1 pound uncooked shrimp
1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes
6 corn cob halves
1/4 cup Old Bay Seasoning


1.  Start off by bringing 6-8 quarts of water to a rolling boil.  Add the Old Bay seasoning and red potatoes and cook for 15 minutes.
2.  Next add sausage and sweet corn to the boiling water and cook for another 10 minutes until the red potatoes are tender.
3.  With a slotted spoon remove the corn, red potatoes and sausage from the boiling water and place on a large serving platter.
4.  Add shrimp and snow crab legs to the water:  bring to a boil and cook 3-5 minutes.  Remove from the water.
5.  Arrange the all the cooked foods onto the large platter and enjoy!

This recipe serves 3-4.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Today, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.


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Merry Christmas

Hope everyone has a wonderful, peaceful Christmas.


http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3250483091333&source=jlfb&cont=2

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Love these chocolate cookies!  The recipe makes a big batch and I love the pattern the powdered sugar makes!
If you don't have  unsweetened chocolate squares substitute:  1 square (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate is equal to 3 tablespoons cocoa (regular-type dry) plus 1 Tablespoon butter or shortening.






Chocolate Crinkle Cookies


1/2 cup oil
4 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup powdered sugar

Mix oil, melted chocolate, and sugar.  Add one egg at a time and mix well.  Add vanilla, salt, flour and baking powder.  Chill overnight.
Preheat oven to 350.  Shape dough into balls of about one teaspoon each and roll in powdered sugar.  Place on well greased baking sheets and bake 10-12 minutes.

Nevada Desert

One thing I love about Nevada is that you can drive a short distance and feel total isolation.  I love the feeling of driving on dirt roads that only a few have traveled.  The imagination runs wild.  Who has been here before?  What is the history of the area?  The desert may look barren, but there is so much to see when you slow down and look.  Each bend is a new view.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream

One of my favorite kinds of ice cream is chocolate chip cookie dough.  So I researched to web to find ideas.

With a little tweaking, I came up with this recipe.  Believe me, it turned out delicious. The dough is good by itself!  I had to taste test!





Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for Ice Cream
(eggless)


1/2 Cup Flour
2 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Sugar
2 Tablespoons Softened Butter
1/8 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Walnuts

Mix ingredients, then shape into a log shape.  Freeze 1-2 hours.  Cut into small chunks.  Put back into the freezer until ready to add to the ice cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream


2 Large Eggs
2 Cups Heavy Cream
1 Cup Milk
2 Teaspoons Vanilla

Mix ingredients and place in ice cream maker.  When the ice cream is thick, add 1 cup mini chocolate chips and the prepared cookie dough.  Process just enough to mix.  Transfer to container for freezer.

Easy Spaghetti Squash

Easy Spaghetti Squash

1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise, seeded
1 24-oz jar Classico Tomato and Basil Sauce
1 can olives
1 can mushrooms
3/4 cup crumbled Feta Cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, bake 30 minutes or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance.  Remove squash from oven and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.  For the sauce:  heat up the Classico sauce, add mushrooms and olives.  Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash.  Top the squash with the sauce and sprinkle with Feta Cheese.

You can also use the following ingredients sauteed in a skillet, rather than the Classico:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil

This is a great Meatless Monday meal!

Tamale Pie

This recipe can be made with items from the cupboard.  It is a good, warming and filling recipe.  I used some of the fresh ground corn (instead of the yellow cornmeal) we had collected from Lattin Farms last month.  It really gave it a great flavor!

Tamale Pie

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green peppers
2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
1 12-oz can whole kernel corn (drained)
1/2 cup sliced and pitted olives
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-3 teaspoons chili powder
dash of pepper

6 oz cheddar cheese, grated

Topper:
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
1 tablespoon butter

cook meat, onion and green pepper in a large skillet until meat is lightly browned and vegetables are tender.  Stir in tomato sauce, corn, olives, garlic, sugar, salt, chili powder and pepper.  simmer 20-25 minutes or until thick.  Add the cheese and stir until melted.  Pour into 1 1/2 quart  casserole dish (or 9 inch square pan).

Make cornmeal topper:  stir cornmeal and salt into cold water.  cook and stir until thick.  add butter, mix well and spoon over the hot meat mixture.

Bake 375 for about 40 minutes
6 servings

Beer, Bait, and Ammo: Local Shopping

Local shopping is always a plus and when you find a place with character, you just have to love it!  The local shop we went to today is Frontier Liquor & Sporting Goods, 33 Deer Creek Circle, Fallon, NV.

I have to believe that Kevin Fowler's song "Beer, Bait and Ammo" was written for this place!   The song says it all:  Beer, bait and ammo..., fishing hooks, dirty books...

We went in for a few archery supplies and came out with some beer as well!

Words to Beer, Bait, and Ammo.  There is also a link to youtube with the actual song!

Well now early one day
I was a-on my way
to my favorite fishin hole
I's a thinking I could sure use
Another bottle of booze
My baits a-runnin a little low
yeah and a box of twelve gauge would be all the rage
when I'm all liquered up and I'm feeling good
Well just down the road there was a place called Bubba's
Man he's got the goods

*Chorus*
And the sign said beer bait and ammo
yeah they got everything in between
yeah they got a-anything any old
beer drinking hell raising bonafide redneck needs
they got your fishing hooks
got your dirty books
got your rebel flag on the wall
sign said beer bait and ammo
yeah you ask me they got it all

well now when a-I walked in
I can't a-even begin
to describe just what I smelt
Lord was it the catfish bait
or something bubba had ate
was it those pickeled eggs on the shelf

yeah with a toothless grin
he said boy step right on in
make yourself right at home
I said no no no thank you man
just a twelve pack of cans
and I'll be good to go

chorus X3


You Tube link to the actual song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWJo9onU1f8

My Mom's Divinity

My Mom's Divinity

My Mom always made divinity this time of year.  I love the stuff.  It is a bit tricky to make and I haven't always had complete success.  It could be my memory of her's is out of whack, or it just tastes better one someone else makes it, but I never feel that it is as good as what she made.  I have the original recipe that she used and know it can be affected by weather.

The last time I tried to make it, I only had a little hand mixer and ended up burning it out!  No divinity that year!

This year I have a big oster mixer and had pretty good success.

My Mom made the white divinity with chopped walnuts, but she also made a cherry divinity using maraschino cherries.  This one is even trickier!  Again, mine is good, but just doesn't seem totally up to par compared to hers.

The main thing is the good memory that comes with this candy.  I may never be able to make it like she did, but I will always think of her when divinity is mentioned!

For the cherry divinity, I got 10 oz jar of cherries.  Drain and pat the cherries dry and chop up in place of the walnuts.  Also substitute 1/3 cup of the juice for 1/3 of the water (1/3 cup juice, 1/3 cup water).

Mom's Divinity

3 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup corn syrup

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup broken nuts

Combine sugar, water and corn syrup in a saucepan, stirring until boiling, then bring to hard ball stage without stirring.

Beat the egg whites until stiff.  Slowly pour the sugar mixture into the eggs and continue beating at high speed.  Beat until it holds it's shape and looses it's gloss:  add vanilla and nuts.

Quickly drop by the tablespoonful onto wax paper and let cool.

New Bows

        NEW BOWS

Santa came early!  Mike and I got new bows!

I got a genesis Pro.  Mike got a Martin Threshold.
Can't wait to go out shooting!

Christmas Gelatin Dessert

I was asked to bring a gelatin dish to a pot luck.  It has been ages since I have done a gelatin dish.  But it sounds like a fun challenge!

Christmas Gelatin Dessert

2 packages (3 oz each) lime gelatin
6 cups boiling water, divided
2 packages (3 oz each) cherry gelatin
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup cold water
1 1/2 cups white grape juice
1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided

In a large bowl, dissolve lime gelatin in 3 cups boiling water.  Pour into an 8 inch square dish coated with cooking spray.  In a different bowl, combine the cherry gelatin with the remaining boiling water until dissolved.  Pour into another 8 inch square dish coated with cooking spray.  Refrigerate both dishes until gelatin is very firm.  I let it set overnight.

Next day:  sprinkle unflavored gelatin over cold water and let stand 1 minute.  In a small saucepan, bring grape juice to a boil; stir in softened unflavored gelatin and stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved.  Pour into a large bowl; refrigerate for 45 minutes (slightly thickened).  Gently fold in 2 cups whipped topping.

Cut green gelatin into 1/2 inch cubes and red gelatin into 1 inch cubes.  Place 2 cups whipped topping mixture into a large bowl; fold in green gelatin cubes.  Spread into a 9 X 13 inch dish coated with cooking spray.  I used a glass baking dish.  Fold red gelatin cubes into the remaining whipped topping mixture; spread over the green gelatin layer.  Refrigerate for 2 hours or until set.

Top with the rest of the whipped topping.

Cut into squares.  Yield:  12-15 servings.

Inspiration for this recipe:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Watermelon-Gelatin-Dessert

One Pan Fast Hash Dinner

One Pan Fast Hash Dinner

This is a fast quick dinner for busy nights.  My kids grew up on it:  I usually use potatoes, onions, corn and hamburger, but tonight I tried a couple of new ingredients.

One Pan Fast Hash Dinner

4 cups diced potatoes (skins on)
5 shallots skinned and chopped
2 cloves garlic (squeezed through garlic press)
1 pound bulk sausage (can be spicy)
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
Salt and Pepper to taste

Coat your skillet with some olive oil and heat up:  fry the potatoes, shallots and garlic together until the potatoes are lightly browned.  Add the sausage and stir to break it up.  Cook until done, then add the frozen vegetables.  Cook until heated:  add salt and pepper.

A complete meal in one skillet!

The Birds, Fallon Style

The Birds

This picture was taken outside our back door!  The whole back yard is covered with birds!  It was amazing!  Reminds me of  an Alfred Hitchcock movie!

Basic Chicken or Turkey Soup

Basic Chicken or Turkey Soup Recipe

Stock: home made or canned

Meat

Shredded chicken or Turkey

Flavoring

some parsley and a couple of cloves of garlic 

Seasoning

poultry seasoning, sage, thyme, marjoram, salt and pepper

Vegetables

equal amounts of:  carrots, onions and celery

Other options

Tomatoes (fresh or canned), frozen vegetables (corn, peas, mixed, etc.), potatoes, peppers, squash, parsnip, turnips, rice, cooked pasta:  whatever is on hand!  Dash of tabasco to heat it up

Simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Here is the soup I came up with

2 quarts of home made stock

fresh parsley (about 2 tablespoons)

2 cloves of garlic

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon sage

1 teaspoon thyme

1teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup each: carrots, onions, celery, SWEET POTATO, frozen mixed vegetables,  and fresh cut tomatoes

2 cups shredded turkey (left overs)

Once the vegetables are tender, I added 3/4 cup instant brown rice and continued to cook until rice was done (5-10 minutes)

The Bread in the picture is whole wheat bread prepared in a bread machine.

Note the sweet potato!  I peeled and sliced the sweet potato!  Another sweet potato used in my sweet potato challenge!  Now there are 7 left!

Turkey rice soup with Whole Wheat Bread

Sweet Potato Bread

Sweet Potato Bread

Mix:
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato

Sift together, then add to mixture:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger

fold in 1/2 cop chopped pecans

Grease a 9 X 5 Loaf pan.  Bake 350 for 1 hour.  Cool 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.


Another sweet potato used in the sweet potato challenge!  8 more to go!

Turkey Stock

turkey carcass

turkey stock

FROM                                  TO

         

                                         

             

                                             

Making Turkey Stock


Turkey carcass, turkey legs & wings, left over bones, and skin are put in a large stock pot along with an onion (quartered), some chopped carrots, parsley, thyme, a bay leaf, celery tops and some peppercorn.  Add about 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Cover with cold water by an inch.

Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a just below a simmer.  Cook for at least 4 hours, uncovered.  Occasionally skim off any foam that comes to the surface.

Remove the bones and veggies and strain the stock.