Recipe for the day ~ Strawberry Pie

Strawberry Pie

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 cup water

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 tspn salt

2 Tbspn cornstarch

14 tspn red food coloring

1 cup all-purpose flour

12 cup margarine

3 Tbspns confectioner's sugar

1 tspn vanilla extract

1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled

Directions:

In a saucepan, combine water, white sugar, salt, cornstarch and food coloring

Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes or until thickened

Set aside to cool

Preheat oven to 350

In a large bowl combine flour, margarine, confectioner's sugar and vanilla

Mix well and press into a 9 inch pie pan

Prick all over the edges and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly brown

When crust is cool, place strawberries in the shell and pour the thickened mixture over the top

 Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve

Currently Reading

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10965.A_Breath_of_Snow_and_Ashes

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence.” ― Edith Sitwell

Recipe for the day ~ Roasted Rack of Lamb

Roasted Rack of Lamb 

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 (7 bone) rack of lamb, trimmed and frenched

12 cup bread crumbs

2 Tbspn minced garlic

2 Tbspn chopped fresh rosemary

1 tspn salt

1/4 tspn black pepper

2 Tbspn olive oil

1 tspn salt

1 tspn black pepper

2 Tbspn olive oil

1 Tbspn Dijon mustard

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 (move oven rack to the center)

In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic, rosemary, 1 tspn salt and 1/4 tspn pepper

Toss in 2 Tbspn olive oil to moisten mixture

Set aside

Season the rack all over with salt and pepper

Heat 2 Tbspn olive oil in a large heavy oven proof skillet over high heat

Sear rack of lamb for 1 to minutes on all sides

Set aside for a few minutes

Brush rack of lamb with mustard

Roll in the bread crumb mixture until evenly coated

Cover ends of the bones with foil to prevent charring

Arrange the rack bone side down in the skillet

Roast the lamb in the preheated oven for 12 to 18 minutes (depending on the degree of doneness you want)

With a meat thermometer, take a reading in the center of the meat after 10-12 minutes and remove the meat, or let cook longer, to your taste

Let it rest for about 5-7 minutes, loosely covered before carving between the ribs

***FOOTNOTE***

Allow internal temperatures to be 5-10 degrees less than you like because the meat will continue to cook while it sits

Bloody rare:  115 to 125 degrees

Rare:  125 to 130 degrees

Medium rare:  130 to 140 degrees

Medium:  140 to 150 degrees

Well:  anything about 150 degrees

 

• 
  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Despite the enormous quantity of books, how few people read! And if one reads profitably, one would realize how much stupid stuff the vulgar herd is content to swallow every day.” ― Voltaire

Recipe for the day ~ Gooey Caramel Monkey Bread

Gooey Caramel Monkey Bread

(Courtesy of Betty Crocker®)

**This is one of my favorite and easiest recipes and the family love it!!**

Ingredients:

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 tspns cinnamon

4 cans Pillsbury® Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits

10 Tbspns butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

 Directions:

Heat oven to 350

Grease or spray 12-cup fluted tube pan (bundt pan)

Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in a 1 gallon plastic bag

Separate dough into biscuits;  cut each into quarters (a pizza wheel works really well for this)

Shake biscuit quarters in bag to coat

Place in pan

Sprinkle any extra sugar mixture over biscuits

in a 1 quart saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to boiling over medium-high heat; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly

Pour over biscuit quarters

Bake 30-40 minutes or until golden brown

Cool 5 minutes in pan

Turn upside down; pull apart to serve

•  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day......“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” 
― Cicero

Recipe for the day ~ Bacon Cheeseburger Nacho Bake

Bacon Cheeseburger Nacho Bake

(Courtesy of Betty Crocker®)

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef (at least 80/20)

1 small onion, chopped

12 tspn garlic salt

1 (8 oz) prepared cheese product (Velveeta ®) cut into small cubes

1/2 cup cooked real bacon pieces (from a jar)

3 cups lightly crushed tortilla chips

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

*Diced pickles (if desired)

*Ketchup (if desired)

*Mustard (if desired)

*Lettuce (if desired)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350

Spray 13x9 glass baking dish with cooking spray

In a 10 inch skillet, cook beef, onion and garlic salt over medium-high heat (about 5-7 minutes) or until beef is thoroughly cooked

Drain off excess fat

Add cubed cheese and bacon and stir until cheese is melted

Remove from heat

Place half of the chips on the bottom of baking dish

Top with half of the beef mixture

Repeat layers

Top with shredded cheese

Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly

Serve immediately with pickles, ketchup, mustard and/or lettuce (however you enjoy a cheeseburger)

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” ― Albert Einstein

Recipe for the day ~ Spring Strawberry Spinach Salad

Spring Strawberry Spinach Salad

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Recipe makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

1 bunch spinach, rinsed (you can chop up or leave whole-your preference)

10 large strawberries, sliced

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tspn salt

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 Tbspn poppy seeds

 Directions:

In a large bowl, mix spinach and strawberries

In a blender, place the sugar, salt, vinegar and oil and blend until smooth

Stir in the poppy seeds

Pour over the spinach and strawberries and toss to coat

 .

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.” ― John Locke

Recipe for the day ~ Luscious Lemon Cake

Luscious Lemon Cake

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

4 eggs

 1 (3 oz) package instant lemon pudding mix

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 package lemon cake mix

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup lemon juice

3 cups sifted confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar for dusting

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Grease and flour a bundt or tube pan

Beat eggs until they are thick

Add pudding mix, cake mix, water and oik

Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes

Pour batter in prepared pan

Bake for 50 minutes

In the last 5 minutes of baking, prepare the the glaze

Mix lemon juice and 3 cups confectioner's sugar in a saucepan

Heat to boiling

Pour hot glaze over hot cake and let cool for about 1 hour

Carefully invert cake onto serving platter

Finish with a light dusting of confectioner's sugar

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever.” ― Alfred Tennyson

Recipe for the day ~ Ham with Honey and Brown Sugar

Ham with Honey and Brown Sugar

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 (5 pound) fully cooked sliced ham

1/4 cup whole cloves

1 cup pineapple juice

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

2 oranges, juiced

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Place ham in a roasting pan and dot with cloves

In a saucepan combine the pineapple juice, brown sugar, honey and orange juice

Stir and simmer over medium-heat until thickened (about 10 minutes)

Pour glaze over the ham

Bake the ham uncovered for 1 hour 

• 
  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING....Thought for the day....“There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.' No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

Recipe for the day ~ Carrot Pineapple Cake

Carrot Pineapple Cake

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tspns baking soda

1 tspn baking powder

1 tspn salt

2 tspns ground cinnamon

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 tspn vanilla extract

2 cups shredded carrots

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 cups confectioner's sugar

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a 9x13 pan

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon

Make a well in the center and add sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla

Mix with a wooden spoon until smooth

Stir in carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple

Pour into 9x13 pan

Bake at 350  for about 45 minutes

Do NOT panic, the center will sink a little

Allow to cool

To make the frosting;  cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth

Add the confectioner's sugar and beat until creamy

Frost cake and enjoy!

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recipe for the day ~ Strawberry Vanilla Pancakes

Strawberry Vanilla Pancakes

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbspn brown sugar

2 tspns baking powder

1 tspn salt

1 egg

1 cup milk

2 Tbspns vegetable oil

2 Tbspns vanilla extract

1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

Directions:

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt

Pour in the milk, oil, egg and vanilla and mix until well blended

Stir in the strawberries

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and coat with butter or cooking spray

Pour batter into desired size of pancakes

Flip with spatula when bubbles appear in the center

Cook until golden brown on the other side

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day....“When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Recipe for the day ~ Easter Breakfast Casserole

Easter Breakfast Casserole

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

(**I make this all the time and it is very good**)

Ingredients:

1 pound bacon

1/4 cup diced onion

1/4 cup diced green bell pepper

3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

8 eggs

2 cups milk

1 (16 oz) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Lightly grease a 7x11 or 9x13 casserole dish

Fry bacon in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until evenly browned, about 10 minutes

Drain on a paper towel lined plate

Crumble bacon

In a large bowl bet together eggs and milk

Mix in cheese, bacon, onion and green pepper

Stir in the thawed hash browns

Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 45 minutes

Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes so the eggs can set

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” ― Bob Marley

Recipe for the day ~ Simple Deviled Eggs

Simple Deviled Eggs

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

**This is how I make mine as well**

Ingredients:

6 hard-boiled eggs

2 Tbspn mayonnaise

1 tspn white vinegar

1 tspn prepared mustard

1/2 tspn salt

1 Tbspn finely chopped onion

1 Tbspn Finely chopped celery

1 pinch paprika, or to taste

Directions:

Slice eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks; set white aside

Mash yolks with a fork in a small bowl

Stir in mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, mustard, salt, onion and celery; Mix well

Stuff or pipe egg yolk mixture into egg white

Sprinkle with paprika

Refrigerate until ready to serve

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Imagination is the highest form of research.” ― Albert Einstein

Recipe for the day ~ Baker's® Bunny Brownies

Baker's® Bunny Brownies

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

4 squares Baker's® Unsweetened Baking Chocolate

3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 tspn vanilla

1 cup flour

1 cup coarsely chopped Planter's nuts (optional)

White Chocolate Coconut Frosting (recipe below)

Directions:

Line 13x9 baking pan with foil, extending over edges to use as handles

Grease foil

Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwavable bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes or until butter is melted

Stir until chocolate is completely melted

Stir sugar into chocolate until well blended

Mix in eggs and vanilla

Stir in flour and nuts until well blended

Spread on prepared baking pan

Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out with fudgy crumbs

Do NOT overbake

Cool in pan

Run knife around edge of pan to loosen brownies from sides

Lift from pan using foil as handles onto a cutting board

Frost with with white chocolate coconut frosting

Refrigerate brownies for about 10 minutes to the frosting sets

Cut into squares or cut with cookie cutters into Easter shapes, such as bunnies

Press cutter down into brownies to cut

Lift up and push brownie through cutter to remove

Decorate with assorted decorating icings, glossy decorating gels and decors

**White Chocolate Coconut Frosting**

Beat 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter

1 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbspn milk

In a medium bowl on low speed until well blended

Beat on medium speed until smooth

Beat in 3 squares of melted Baker's® Premium White Chocolate

Stir 1/2 f a 7oz pkg (1 1/3 cups) Baker's® Sweetened Flake Coconut

Sprinkle remaining coconut over brownies after they are frosted and cut, if desired

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day....“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” ― Vincent van Gogh

Recipe for the day ~ Slow Cooker Party Ham

Slow Cooker Party Ham

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

1 (7 lb) skinless bone in ham (shank or butt-end bottom)

1/3 cup Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 can (14 oz) pineapple tidbits, drained

2 Tbspn cornstarch

2 Tbspn water

 Directions:

Place ham in slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray

Mix barbecue sauce, honey and sugar in a medium bowl until well blended

Stir in pineapple

Pour over ham

Cover with lid and cook on low for 4 hours or until ham is heated through - make sure to turn ham after 2 hours

Transfer ham to platter, reserving sauce in slow cooker

Cover ham to keep warm

Whisk cornstarch and water until blended

Add to reserved sauce in slow cooker

Cook uncovered for 5 minutes or until it's thickened - stirring occasionally

Serve with ham

**To add something extra special**

Add 1/2 tspn crushed red pepper to the barbecue sauce before pouring mixture over the ham

***NOTE***

It is NOT recommended to cook the ham on the High setting of the slow cooker since it will most likely dry out the ham.

Since most hams are already fully cooked, warming them slowing on the LOW setting produces the best results

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING....Thought for the day....“Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.”― Rumi

Recipe for the day ~ Fluffy 2-Step Easter Cheesecake

Fluffy 2-Step Easter Cheesecake

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

1 pkg (8 oz) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed

1 Honey Maid Graham Pie Crust (6 oz or 9 inch)

1 cup cherry pie filling (optional)

Directions:

Beat cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with a wire whisk or electric mixer until smooth

Gently stir in the Cool Whip

Spoon into Crust

Refrigerate 3 hours or until set

Garnish with pie filling, if desired

Store left over cheesecake in refrigerator

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING......Thought for the day.....“Do one thing every day that scares you.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Recipe for the day ~ Irish Root Soup

Irish Root Soup

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1 large yellow onion, chopped

2 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, rinsed and coarsely chopped

4 cloves garlic, smashed

1 stalk celery, cut into chunks

4 cups vegetable stock

5 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 cup vegetable stock

1 1/4 cups sliced baby carrots

3 Tbspn chopped green onion

3/4 cup heavy cream

salt and pepper to taste

6 Tbspn shredded cheddar cheese

 Directions:

Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat

Cook and stir the onion, leeks, garlic and celery in the melted butter until tender, about 10 minutes

Pour 4 cups vegetable stock into the stock pot

Add the potatoes

Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low

Cook the mixture at a simmer for about 20 minutes

Divide the stock mixture into 3 batches with equal amounts of liquid and vegetables

Set aside to cool for about 30 minutes

Pour 1 batch of the stock mixture into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway

Hold the blender lid firmly in place and carefully start the blender; use a quick pulse to get the mixture moving before leaving it on to puree

Repeat the process with the second batch

Return the pureed batches to the stock pot

Divide the third batch into two equal batches

Puree only one of the two batches before returning both to the stock pot

Bring 1 cup vegetable stock to a simmer in small pot over medium-low heat

Cook the carrots in the simmering stock until soft. about 5-7 minutes

Add to the puree in the stock pot

Stir in the green onion and heavy cream through the puree mixture

Continue cooking for about another 5 minutes

Season with salt and pepper

Top with cheddar cheese to serve 

Thought of the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day..... “Always remember to forget the friends that proved untrue. But never forget to remember those that have stuck by you.” –Irish Proverb

Recipe for the day ~ Irish Apple Cake

Irish Apple Cake

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

3 cups sifted all purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 tspn salt

3 egg yolks

1 cup butter, softened

1 lemon zest grated

2 cups applesauce

1/2 tspn ground cinnamon

1/4 tspn ground cloves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Grease a 9x9 baking pan with cooking spray

In a medium size bowl mix flour, sugar and salt

Beat in egg yolks, butter and lemon zest until thoroughly mixed

In a small bowl mix applesauce, cinnamon and ground cloves

Press half the dough into the prepared baking pan

Spread applesauce mixture over the dough in a nice layer

Top with remaining dough

Bake for about 40 minutes or until the edges start to slightly brown or it will come out to dry

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” ― Dr. Seuss

Recipe for the day ~ Glazed Corned Beef

Glazed Corned Beef

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

4 1/2 pounds corned beef, rinsed

1 cup water

1 cup apricot preserves

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbspn soy sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Coat a large pan with non-stick cooking spray

Place corned beef in dish and add the water

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours; drain liquid

In a small bowl combine apricot preserves, brown sugar and soy sauce

Spread the apricot mixture evenly over the corned beef

Bake uncovered at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until the meat is tender

Basting occasionally with pan drippings

Slice corned beef across grain and serve

  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“There is no easy or quick plan to happiness, there is no single spot where you can start. Where you are right now is the best place to begin.” ― Mark Twain

Recipe for the day ~ Perfect St. Patrick's Day Cake

Perfect St. Patrick's Day Cake

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

1 cup Irish stout beer ~ such as Guinness

1 cup butter, cut into pieces

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 eggs

2/3 cup sour cream

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 tspn baking soda

3/4 tspn salt

3 cups confectioners' sugar, or as needed

1/2 cup butter at room temperature

3 Tbspn Irish cream liquor ~ such as Bailey's, or as needed

8 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2/3 cups heavy cream

2 Tbspn butter at room temperature

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Line 2 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray

Pour the beer into a saucepan, add butter and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat

Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth

Allow the mixture to cool

In a bowl, beat eggs and sour cream together until smooth with an electric mixer

Stir in the stout mixture to make a smooth, thick liquid

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt

Pour the stout mixture into the flour bowl and gently combine with a spatula

Pour the batter into the prepared pans

Bake for about 30 minutes or when a toothpick comes out clean from the center of cake pan

Remove and cool in pans for about 5 minutes before inverting to wired racks to cool

Mix together the confectioners' sugar, butter and Irish cream liquor until smooth and spreadable as a frosting (you may add more sugar or liquor as needed to create the desired consistency)

Spread half the frosting on top of each cake

Place the chopped chocolate into a heatproof bowl

Bring cream to almost boiling in a small saucepan and pour over the chocolate

Stir in the butter and stir the mixture until the chocolate melts and the mixture is very smooth

Allow to cool until the mixture is pourable but not thin or overly runny (10-15 minutes)

Stack a cake gently on top of the other, frosting sides uppermost and carefully drizzle the chocolate mixture over the cake, allowing decorative drips to run down the side

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING....Thought for the day.....“It makes no difference where you go, there you are. And it makes no difference what you have, there’s always more to want. Until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy because of what you have.” ― Zig Ziglar

Recipe for the day ~ Open Face St. Paddy's Biscuits

Open Face St. Paddy's Biscuits

(Courtesy of Betty Crocker Foods)

Ingredients:

1 package (12 oz) frozen spinach souffle, thawed

2 3/4 cups Original Bisquick®  mix

3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (3 oz)

1/4 tspn ground mustard

8 eggs

2 Tbspn butter or margarine, softened

1 1.2 tspn spicy brown mustard

1/4 lb thinly sliced cooked ham (from the deli)

 Directions:

Heat oven to 425

In a medium bowl, mix spinach souffle, Bisquick mix, cheese and ground mustard with a fork or just until dry ingredients are moistened

On slightly floured work surface, knead dough 8 to 10 times

Pat dough to 3/4 inch thickness

Cut with a 3 inch round cutter

On un-greased cookie sheet, place rounds 1 inch apart

Bake 13 to 16 minutes or until golden brown

Meanwhile, in a 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 Tbspn butter over medium-high heat

Break egg into custard cup

Carefully slide into skillet

Repeat with 3 more eggs

Immediately reduce heat to medium-low

Cook 4 minutes, spooning butter over eggs until film forms over top and whites and yolks are firm but not runny

If desired, season to taste with salt and pepper

Repeat with remaining 1 Tbspn butter and 4 eggs

In a small bowl, mix softened butter and brown mustard

Split 4 biscuits

Spread cut sides with butter mixture (reserving remaining 4 biscuits for later use)

Top each biscuit half with ham and 1 fried egg

•  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING......Thought for the day........“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..” ― John Milton, Paradise Lost

Recipe for the day ~ Apple and Brown Sugar Corned Beef

Apple and Brown Sugar Corned Beef

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

4 cups apple juice

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 Tbspn prepared mustard

2 (3 lb) corned beef briskets with spice packets

20 small red potatoes, scrubbed

2 carrots, cut into chunks

2 onions, cut into 8 wedges

1 head cabbage, cored and cut into large chunks

Directions:

Pour apple juice into a large slow cooker

Mix in the brown sugar and mustard, stirring until the brown sugar has dissolved

Mix in the contents of the spice packets and lay briskets into the apple juice mixture

Top with red potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage chunks

Push all ingredients into the liquid

Cover and cook on High (4 to 5 hours) until corned beef is tender or on Low (8 to 10 hours)

Slice meat thinly across grain and serve with vegetables

FOOTNOTE:

For stovetop cooking, place meat, apple juice, brown sugar and mustard in a large covered stockpot. 

Bring to a boil

Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 40 minutes per pound of meat

Add vegetable for the last half hour of cooking

•  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day....“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” 
― Aristotle

Recipe for the day ~ Pistachio Bar Dessert

Pistachio Bar Dessert

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

36 Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups)

6 Tbspn butter or margarine, melted

2 pkg (3.4 oz each) Jell-O Pistachio Flavor instant pudding

2 cups cold milk

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed, divided

1/2 cup toffee bits

Directions:

Mix cookie crumbs and butter until well blended

Press onto bottom of a 13x9 pan

Refrigerate until ready to use

Beat pudding mixes and milk in a large bowl with a whisk for about 2 minutes

Spread 1 1/2 cups of pudding mix on top of crust

Stir half the Cool Whip into remaining pudding mix

Spread over pudding layer in pan

Cover with remaining Cool Whip

Refrigerate for about 4 hours or until firm

Sprinkle with toffee bits before serving

**You can substitute chopped Planters Dry Roasted Pistachios for the toffee bits**

 

 

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” ― Sigmund Freud

Recipe for the day ~ Beef, Mushroom and Guinness Pie

Beef, Mushroom and Guinness Pie

(Courtesy of All Recipes)

Ingredients:

3 Tbspn olive oil, divided

1 pound cubed beef stew meat

2 slices of bacon, chopped

1 white onion, chopped

1 carrot, sliced

1/3 pound mushrooms, sliced

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 tspn white sugar

1 1/2 tbspn all-purpose flour

1 cup Irish stout beer (such as Guinness)

1 1/4 cups beef stock

1/2 tspn ground thyme

2 bay leaves

1/2 tspn cornstarch or as needed

1 tspn water

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

Heat 2 tbspn of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat 

Brown the beef stew meat on all sides, about 10 minutes; set aside

Heat the remaining 1 tbspn of olive oil and cook the bacon just until it begins to brown

Stir in the onions, carrots, mushrooms, garlic and sugar

Cook the vegetables until they are soft and browned, about 10-15 minutes

Stir in the flour until smoothly incorporated and gradually mix the Irish beer and beef stock

Mix in the thyme, bay leaves and the reserved cooked beef

Cover and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat to simmer until the meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hour

Stir occasionally

Remove the cover, turn the heat up to medium and let the stew boil until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes

Mix cornstarch with water and stir into the stew

Let simmer for 30 more minutes to blend all the flavors

Remove from heat; discard the bay leaves

Preheat oven to 350

Spread the filling into a 9 inch pie dish

Trim the pastry puff into a 10 inch circle and place on top of the filling

Pinch and crimp the edges of the pastry with a fork, sealing it to the dish

Cut 2 steam vents into the pastry with a sharp knife

Brush the top of the pie with the beaten egg

Bake for about 40 minutes or until the crust is browned

•  

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Happiness does not come from without, it comes from within” ― Helen Keller

Recipe for the day ~ Green Velvet Cupcakes

Green Velvet Cupcakes

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

<3 FOR ALL MY CUPCAKE MAKERS  <3

Ingredients:

1 pkg (2-layer size) white cake mix

2 oz Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

1 Tbspn green food coloring

4 oz (1/2 of 8 oz pkg) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened

1 jar (7 oz) Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme

1 tspn vanilla

1 tub (8oz) Cool Whip Whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

Heat oven to 350

Prepare and bake cake batter as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending melted chocolate and food coloring into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups

Cool completely

Beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer until blended well

Add Cool; beat just until blended

Spoon Cool Whip mixture into resealable plastic bag

Cut corner off one bottom corner of bag; use to pipe Cool Whip mixture onto tops of cupcakes

 

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” 
― William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

Recipe for the day ~ Cheesy Beer Soup

Cheesy Beer Soup

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup  finely chopped onion

1 clove  garlic, minced

1 Tbsp.  butter or margarine

1 Tbsp.  flour

1-3/4 cups  milk

1/2 lb.  (8 oz.) VELVEETA®, cut up

1/2 cup  beer

1/2 tsp.  Worcestershire sauce

 Few drops hot pepper sauce

Directions:

Cook onion and garlic with butter in a large saucepan  on medium-high heat until tender, stirring frequently

Add flour; mix well

Cook for 2 minutes or until hot and bubbly, stirring frequently

Stir in milk until well blended

Cook until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly

Reduce heat to low; simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

Add remaining ingredients; mix well

Cook for 5 minutes or until Velveeta cheese is completely melted and soup is

heated through, stirring constantly

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day....“Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.” ― Napoleon

Recipe for the day ~ Easy 1-2-3 Shamrock Milk Shake

Easy 1-2-3 Shamrock Milk Shake

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

2 Tbspn Jell-O Pistachio Flavored Instant Pudding

1 Oreo Mint Pure Milk Chocolate Covered Cookie, finely chopped

Directions:

Pour milk into a tall glass

Add dry pudding mix

Stir 2-3 minutes or until pudding mix is completely dissolved

Stir in chopped cookie

Serve

Thought for the day

GOOD MORNING.....Thought for the day.....“Hope - Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, 
Whispering 'it will be happier'...” ― Alfred Tennyson

Recipe for the day ~ Irish Beef Stew

Irish Beef Stew

(Courtesy of Kraft Foods)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs boneless beef round steak, trimmed, cut into bite size pieces

2 Tbspn flour

2 Tbspn oil

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 can (14 1/2 oz) beef broth

1 can (14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes

1 envelope (.08 oz) Good Seasons Garlic & Herb dressing mix

1 lb red potatoes (about 3) cut into 3/4 inch chunks

3 carrots, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices

4 cups hot cooked noodles

Directions:

Cook meat with flour

Heat oil in Dutch oven or large deep skillet on medium-high heat

Add meat and onion;  cook and stir 5-8 minutes or until meat is evenly browned

Stir in broth, tomatoes and dressing mix

Cover, simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally

Add potatoes and carrots;  simmer, covered for about 45 minutes or until meat is tender and sauce is thickened, uncovering after 30 minutes and stirring occasionally

Serve over hot cooked noodles