Category Archives: Recipes

Happy New Year Cake

Finished Snowman Cake
Snowman Cake

We had fun making this Snowman Cake. They always turn out a little different from the one before. Use whatever you have to decorate him!

Here’s how we made him, step by step. John is the baker this time! We had fun coming up with things to decorate with!

Bought cake mix at an Amish store who always has good prices!
You need two cake mixes and you can use chocolate, too, but I’m not a lover of Chocolate!
John is mixing up the cakes with the 4 qt. mixing bowl.

Pour one whole cake mix into the largest 3 qt. mixing bowl. Divide the other cake mix between the other two Lifetime Cookware mixing bowls: the 3/4 qt. and 1-1/2 qt.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. I have a Samsung true convection oven but found that it took the same amount of time as did my regular oven I used to have. (Oh, close that door!) The time it takes to bake them is 45 min for the small bowl, 50 min for the medium bowl and 55 min for
the large bowl.




Let cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the bowls. Use a knife to score around the edges of the bowls so they will release easily.
This is what the individual cakes will look like.
Freeze to make icing the cake easier. Got to love the cold weather to help with this! We used the 4 qt
mixing bowl over the 3 qt. cake, the 3 qt. mixing bowl over the 1-1/2 qt. cake; the 1-1/2 qt. mixing bowl
over the 3/4 qt. cake.
We used candy for the buttons, but usually we use nonpareils for the buttons but didn’t have any. Raisins make for a delightful smile 🙂 and eyes; we used straws for the arms but use pretzels when we have them. We used the only orange thing we could find for the nose: Cheetos! Ha, worked well! We used coconut all over him this time, but sometimes we only put it around the bottom which also works well.
M&Ms for mouth, eyes and cheeks; candy canes for arms, Mike & Ikes for a nose and Dots candy for buttons work well, too! A customer sent this to me. Thanks for the picture!

Let me know if you try one. Feel free to send pictures!

The Best Oatmeal Ever

Want something simple yet elegant?  Here’s a recipe we made by accident.  I’m not a real fan of oatmeal.  I don’t like sugar in it, either.  John always asks me if I want some of his.  I usually don’t, but this one day I did.  I wasn’t ready to eat it when he was so he put it back on the burner.  We love fresh frozen blueberries  heated up in it and I love bananas in it, too, but usually just added on top after served.  He had added the bananas and put it back on the burner on low.  I ate it about 1/2 hour later.  The bananas caramelized  & tasted like plaintains!  Oh, the oatmeal was so good!  Mmm, warm oatmeal heated w/blueberries and caramelized bananas!  Here’s the recipe:

  • 1 C quick cooking oats
  • 3 C water
  • 1/4 C blueberries, frozen or fresh
  • 1 T flax seeds
  • 1 T chia seeds
  • 1 medium-sized banana

Directions

  • Add water to the oatmeal.  Add the flax and chia seeds.   Bring mixture to a rolling boil and boil 1 minute.
  • Turn burner to low and add blueberries and bananas.
  • Cover pan.
  • Cook on low for 5-10 minutes until bananas are caramelized.

 

 

 

 

Homemade Caramel Corn Recipe

Jumbo popping corn makes the best caramel corn
Jumbo popping corn makes the best caramel corn

Pop corn but don't add the butter or salt
Pop corn but don’t add the butter or salt

Spread popcorn onto 2 13x9" baking pans
Spread popcorn onto 2 13×9″ baking pans

Melt the brown sugar, Karo Syrup, butter and salt together
Melt the brown sugar, Karo Syrup, butter and salt together

Bring liquids to a boil
Bring liquids to a boil

Bake and stir every 12 minutes
Bake and stir every 12 minutes

 

John loves Caramel Corn so he made this tonight and I have to say it is delicious!  We found the Pop Secret Jumbo popcorn at Target this afternoon and he came home and made this.  So much better than buying it already made.  Extra good!  Here’s the recipe he used.

We used the Lifetime Cookware stainless steel  9 X 13 pans and the 2 qt. Lifetime Cookware stainless steel saucepan for mixing the caramel ingredients.  Use a wooden utensil while mixing ingredients so it doesn’t absorb the heat.

Homemade Caramel Corn Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 qts. Popped Pop Secret Jumbo popping corn
  • 1 C brown sugar
  • ½ C light or dark Karo syrup, I use light
  • ½ C salted butter
  • ½ t salt
  • 1 t Penzy’s vanilla extract
  • 1/2 t baking soda

Directions

  • Spray 2 -9 X 13 cake pans with PAM.  Add popped corn and put it into a 250 degree oven while making the brown sugar caramel.
  • Mix brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in a medium sized saucepan.  Stir often as you bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat.  Stop stirring and boil ingredients for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and the baking soda.  Blend well.
  • Pour caramel over popcorn and mix until it is all coated.
  • Spray pan with PAM and put 9 X 13’s in oven at 250 degrees   Bake for 45 minutes, but stir popcorn every 12 minutes.
  • Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

 

Caramel Flan Impossible Cake

Caramel Flan Impossible Cake
Caramel Flan Impossible Cake

 

 

Lifetime Cookware 6 Qt. Dutch Oven, cold and sprayed with PAM cooking spray
Lifetime Cookware 6 Qt. Dutch Oven, cold and sprayed with PAM cooking spray

Pour blended flan into pan on top of cake mix
Pour blended flan into pan on top of cake mix

Spread flan evenly over cake mix
Spread flan evenly over cake mix

When cake is done, flip cake out upside down onto a plate or pan
When cake is done, flip cake out upside down onto a plate or pan

 

Utensils

  • Electric Mixer
  • Lifetime 6 Qt. Dutch Oven and Cover

Ingredients

  • 1 Box  Caramel Cake Mix, mixed per instructions on box

Flan Recipe Ingredients

  • (1) 12 oz. can evaporated milk,
  • (1) 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk,
  • 4 eggs and
  • 1 t vanilla.

Directions

  • Prepare cake mix as directed on box.
  • Using a blender, mix flan ingredients.
  • Place cold 6 qt. dutch oven on stovetop.  Spray with PAM cooking spray.
  • Pour in cake mix.
  • Pour blended flan on top.
  • Cover with lid and bake on low for 1 to 1hour 15 min.
  • Invert cake onto cake plate and slice for a rich slice of warm cake.

Serve warm or cold.

 

 

 

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake Recipe

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake Recipe

Happy Valentine’s Day!
This is a great recipe to serve your loved ones! Delicious!  Definitely one of Annie’s favorites and she doesn’t even like chocolate that much!  Use the large electric skillet for this one!

Cookware Used

  • 12 ½” Electric Skillet
  • Kitchen Aid mixer

Ingredients

  • 1 C all-purpose flour
  • ¾ C granulated sugar
  • 2 T cocoa powder
  • 2 t baking powder
  • ¼ t salt
  • ½ C milk
  • 2 T vegetable oil
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 C chopped nuts, opt.

Directions

  • Mix above ingredients together & pour into pan.  Do not preheat pan. 
  • Meanwhile,  combine 1 C packed brown sugar and ¼ C cocoa powder and sprinkle over mixture in pan.
  • Pour 1 ¾ C hottest tap water over all &  turn on electric skillet & bake at 200℉ for 15 minutes.
  • If using the 11” stovetop skillet, bake on low heat for 20 minutes.
  • Serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream!

NOTE:  This cake is best scooped out of the pan it is baked in  & served while warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream to help soften the richness of the cake.

Brussel Sprout and Kale Salad made like the Cracker Barrel Restaurant

Use a food chopper on a cutting board or buy chopped pecans then toast in skillet for 60-90 seconds
Use a food chopper on a cutting board or buy chopped pecans then toast in skillet for 60-90 seconds

Combine chopped brussel sprouts and chopped kale, add craisins and toasted pecans.
Combine chopped brussel sprouts and chopped kale, add craisins and toasted pecans.

As you mix your vinaigrette, it will thicken slightly.  Pour into and incorporate it into the salad.
As you mix your vinaigrette, it will thicken slightly.  Pour into and incorporate it into the salad.

Kale and Broccoli Salad Recipe
Kale and Broccoli Salad Recipe

John and I travelled to FL for Christmas this year and stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home for dinner.  One of their new sides is a Brussel Sprout and Kale Salad that we just loved.  I went online to get the recipe and pretty much followed it.  If you’ve never had this salad and never been to Cracker Barrel, you have to try this salad!  We made it on New Year’s Eve and we just finished it up today, 1-3-18.  I hope you will like it as much as we did!  By the way, I had it with the lightly fried (cornmeal) Catfish.  YUM  Getting hungry again!

 

Copycat Cracker Barrel Brussel Sprouts n Kale Salad 2017

Shredded brussel sprouts and kale, craisins, and toasted pecans dressed in a maple vinaigrette

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed, rinsed and  shredded in food processor
  • 1 lb. fresh brussel sprouts, rinsed, trimmed and shredded in food processor
  • 1 6 oz. bag craisins (dried cranberries)
  • 8 oz. pecans, chopped & toasted in hot skillet 60-90 seconds before adding to salad

Maple Viniagrette

  • 1/2 C  olive oil
  • 1/4 C  apple cider vinegar
  • 4 T  first drawn pure maple syrup 
  • 1 t dry mustard

DIRECTIONS  Shred or thinly slice kale and brussel sprouts and put in salad bowl.  Toast pecans in skillet over high heat for 60-90 seconds.Add pecans and craisins to bowl. Blend all vinaigrette ingredients well.Pour vinaigrette over salad and stir to evenly coat.  Serve immediately or refridgerate and use.  Mix will hold well in a  tight container for several days.  Absolutely delicious!

 

https://www.sixcleversisters.com/copycat-cracker-barrel-brussel-sprouts-n-kale-salad-recipe/

Amish Zucchini Burgers

Zucchini Burgers

I have an Amish friend who had made these the other day for lunch and they sounded so good!  My sister brought me a huge zucchini today so I decided to make these for dinner tonight.  I have to say, they are delicious!

Cook the burgers in at least a 10" gourmet skillet
Cook the burgers in at least a 10″ gourmet skillet

Assemble the sandwich with the burger in the middle.
Assemble the sandwich with the burger in the middle.

ZUCCHINI BURGERS

Utensils needed

  • Lifetime 10″ or 12″ Gourmet Skillet
  • Lifetime Griddle or electric toaster to toast bread
  • Stainless steel turner

Ingredients

  • 1/2 C shredded zucchini
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 small onion, minced
  • Panko, add until desired consistency.
  • salt, pepper and garlic to taste
  • Tomatoes, whole grain toasted bread and mayo to finish off the sandwich.

Directions

  • Work together and form into desired burger size.  On medium  heat, preheat 10″ stovetop skillet adding butter to fry the patties.  Fry  five minutes per side or until golden brown on both sides.  Cover and turn to low for 5 more minutes to make sure burger is heated through.
  • Toast bread, spread a little mayo and add a fresh slice tomato to both pieces, add burger in middle.

 

 

 

 

Annette’s Spanish Pollo al caldero

Thank you, Annette, for sharing this recipe!  I will be making it this weekend for sure!  Can’t wait.  My mouth is watering!

Annette

The pleasure is mine. I’m going to share with you at least 2 recipes that I do and are easy and good. The chicken is the only one that might have hispanic products but they are easy to find. I cook low sodium due to hbp and this chicken is the bomb. I will post to you here and you can post it there in your blog. Ive done pizza but regular dough that i make. Count on me with your blog. Inwill start sharing it with my friend in Puerto rico. Have a good night.

Here is my recipe. You have to make it and taste it. Let me know how much you like it.

Here is my chicken recipe.   (She calls it Spanish Pollo al caldero. )

Ingredients

-1 whole chicken cut in pieces
– Chicken bouillon*
 -6 Spanish olives**
-Sprinkle some of 1 envelope of Sazón Goya***
 -1/2 tsp of Oregano
-1/2 tsp of cumin
-Roasted red peppers (pimiento morrón) and some of its juice. 
– Onion
 -Balsamic vinegar
-Bay leaves
 -1 tsp of fresh garlic
– Few leaves of fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions

◦ Cut the chicken into pieces and put it in a bowl with water, white vinegar and some salt. Rub it and rinse it. It is just the take out the greasy feeling from it.
◦ Preheat the skillet at 350. I would add some water or a tsp of olive oil even though while cooking it will release fat and water. So this can be optional. I do it so the chicken wont stick on the skillet.
◦ I don’t seasoned the chicken because of my hbp but once the chicken is in the skillet I add over it the garlic, spread oregano, cumin, some sazon for color and it has salt too so just a bit, but you can use paprika instead, some roasted red peppers and some of its juice, 3 bay leaves, like 6 olives cut in pieces, some onion and 1/2 chicken bouillon. You can add the entire bouillon because for you it might be under salt. Maybe you feel that all the juices where the chicken is cooking will feel salty but since the chicken is not seasoned it will be good.
◦ Let it boil a few minutes, turn over the pieces and add balsamic vinegar as much as you like. I normally add like 1/4 c or less.
◦ Put the lid on and lower the heat to simmer. I even put it a little less than simmer and it has cooked great too.
◦ I haven’t taken the time of cooking. I just let it cook and check like every 30 minutes to see if the water in it hasn’t dried out and turn the chicken over again. And of course taste the juice of the chicken. You will notice that the chicken, when done, will be so tender that the bone will come out without any effort.

Pizza 101

Utensils Needed

  • Lifetime 12″ Pizza Pan
  • Stainless Steel Turner
  • Pizza Cutter

Ingredients

  • 4 Burrito size tortillas, divided
  • 1  8 oz. can Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce, divided
  • 36 slices Hormel Turkey Pepperoni, divided
  • 1 8 oz. bag Kraft 3-cheese mix, divided

Directions

  • Preheat 12″ Lifetime electric skillet at 325 degrees
  • Place 2 burrito size tortillas on pizza pan
  • Spread 1/2 can of sauce on the top burrito
  • Layer 18 pepperoni evenly over sauce
  • Sprinkle 1/2 bag of shredded cheese on top of pizza
  • Bake in covered 12″ Lifetime Electric Skillet for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted
  • Remove from pan and slice with pizza cutter
  • Lift your pizza out with a stainless turner