This Wife Cooks

My dad recently taught me a recipe for a slight but oh-so-yummy spin on regular steamed cauliflower. It was a big hit! Beckham absolutely LOVES cauliflower. (He loved the lemon too: Click here to see!) Steam the cauliflower until it's almost done, about 7 - 10 minutes. Put it into a glass casserole dish, pour over it about 1/4 cup of melted butter, and then sprinkle about 1/2 cup bread crumbs over top. Bake in the oven (I think we baked it @ 325, because that's what the chicken was cooking at. until the breadcrumbs look kinda crispy and the cauliflower is tender. Yummilicious! *Serve with lemon wedges*

I got this recipe from my family cookbook, and I have to apologize for the fact that I cannot remember who's name was at the bottom of the recipe, and the cookbook is currently in storage. (I'm reading it from a page that I hand-wrote in my recipe book.) Herb Crusted Chicken Ingredients: 1 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon garlic salt  (The chicken was very salty! We'll leave this out next time!) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1/2 celery salt 1 teaspoon Paprika 8 chicken breasts 2 cups bread crumbs 1/2 cup butter Directions: In a bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Dip chicken breasts into this mixture, covering each breast thoroughly. Place chicken on a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight. (Note: The chicken doesn't have to refrigerate overnight, but it's more flavorful if it does.) After chicken has marinated overnight (or at least, once it's been coated) dip it into the breadcrumbs. Place it on a tinfoil lined (and ...

12 oz can frozen apple juice 3 3-inch cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves 1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. 2. Cover and simmer on Low 4 hours. 3. Remove cinnamon and cloves before serving. Variation: Omit the cinnamon and cloves. Use 1/4 cup fresh or dried mint tea leaves instead.

I made beef pot pie for dinner a few nights ago, it's one of several recipes that I can actually make right off the top of my head! I LOVE being able to make things like that. I don't have measurements memorized, I just kinda guess @ the amount whenever I make it, so what's here are total approximations! :) Ingredients 1 pound Stew Meat 3 tablespoons Butter (or Olive Oil, if you'd prefer) 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 - 1.5 teaspoons garlic salt (I love ours !) 2 - 3 cups hot water 2 beef bouillon cubes 3 peeled potatoes 3 peeled carrots (If you'd like, after the carrots and potatoes are cooked, you can add a bag of additional veggies - corn & peas, for example) Directions In large, deep saucepan, heat butter until melted and barely bubbling (don't let it burn!). Add stew meat, sprinkle with pepper, onion powder and garlic salt. Brown the meat, cooking until no longer pink. At this point, add water and bouillo...

Ingredients: 1 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast 1 cup warm water 1 teaspoon white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 ½ cups bread flour (I sift mine and then measure it.) Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 450ºF. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. 2. Add salt, oil and flour. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes. 3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker’s peel dusted with cornmeal. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.

This is perfect for a big group of people! Strawberry Salad 2 (6 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin 2 cups boiling water 1 cup cold water 1 (16 ounce) package frozen strawberries (or fresh ones, if they're in season!) 1 (9 inch) angel food cake, cut in cubes 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed In a saucepan, mix gelatin with boiling water, stir until dissolved and add cold water. In a large bowl, combine the gelatin and frozen strawberries. Chill until slightly thickened (consistency of egg whites). If adding lots of frozen strawberries, it may reach this stage while stirring in. Gently fold in cake cubes and whipped topping. Chill until set. Decorate top with any extra whipped topping or strawberries.

This is my favorite simple recipe for spiced apple cider. 1 gallon apple cider 3/4 cup brown sugar juice of 1 lemon 4 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Mix together all of the ingredients in a large soup kettle. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Serve hot, or cool to room temperature and chill before serving.

In light of Halloween coming soon... I decided that I can't wait to eat Pumkin seeds again! They're one of my favorite (and usually only once a year) snacks! Plain ones are delicious, of course, but why not kick it up a bit and make some fun ones?! 1/4 cup water 3 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons crumbled dried mixed herbs 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon salt Dash cayenne powder 2 cups hulled pumpkin seeds Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the water, garlic powder, herbs, Worcestershire, onion powder, salt, and cayenne in a medium saucepan and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the pumpkin seeds and place on a large baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the seeds are crisp. Store in an airtight container. Makes 2 cups spiced seeds.