Thanksgiving Contest & Recipe!

In celebration of Thanksgiving and giving thanks, I’m hosting up what hopefully will be a little fun with a nifty prize at the end.

We love food. We love cooking. We are HUMAN…That means not all our loving meals quite come out like we intend. Maybe we ran out of something and tried to wing-it with another ingredient.

Maybe our oven takes a crap on Thanksgiving morning. (True story) Or maybe it’s not even the food, maybe our toilet became old faithful and you didn’t even know one could blow like that!! (Another true story)

Share your favorite Thanksgiving BLOOPER and sometime on the Friday after, I’ll pick a winner.

What’s the prize you ask?

An autographed copy of my sweet coming home, Thanksgiving themed story. The story of realizing you aren’t at the card table anymore and that you and your siblings are now grown.

An American Holiday-Turkey, Cranberry Sauce & Prozac!

 

Amazon

In the story Kristi James shares a family recipe. Great Grandma Obaugh’s Cranberry Salad- Well folks, that was my grandmother Obaugh’s cranberry salad recipe, so while the story is completely fictional, this of all my stories holds the most little truths here and there.

For those who wish the recipe for Thanksgiving… Prepare the night before for best results.

Large Box Cherry Jell-o
One Cup Sugar
One Cup Walnuts or Pecans
One Cup Celery
One Cup Raw Cranberries
One Can of Crushed Pineapple
One Orange

Large box of Cherry Jell-o and one cup of sugar. Add HALF the required boiling water and mix until all is dissolved. Set in refrigerator to HALF set.

While you are waiting.

Chop walnuts or pecans, celery and raw cranberries. Once Jell-o is half-set, add all ingredients, including entire can juice and all of crushed pineapple and grate the entire orange (zest) and then using fingers shred the flesh up into the jell-o.

Mix well and set in refrigerator overnight.

If you try it… PLEASE, PLEASE let me know what you thought. I loved sharing Great Grandma’s recipe and I thought she’d get a kick too!

Happy Thanksgiving
~ Bobbi Romans

Breakfast Cookies-A Cheap, Fast, On-the-Go, Morning Meal!

Breakfast Cookies- A quick, cheap warm something for the kiddos before school.

I love Jiffy recipes. I grew up watching my grandmother use Jiffy, so… memories do lots for me and I broke out the ole Jiffy cookbook and remembered this gem!

2 Cups Jiffy
(1) Tube of Sausage. (1lb- UNCOOKED)
1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheese. (I used Cheddar)
2/3 Cup of Milk

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix all the above WELL, then drop by scoop onto baking sheet.

Bake for 15-20 Min. You don’t have to wait for them to cool before using a spatula to remove and get the next batch in.

Makes 24-30 (depending on size you make) Cookies.

Sour Cream Pot Roast (Crockpot)

Sour Cream Pot Roast

This is Momma’s recipe, its fast east and not too pricey. I’m going to tell you how I do it now, but also include her original recipe.

One large chuck roast
One packet of dry onion soup mix
(1) Small container Sour Cream

As you race out the door, toss the roast frozen or thawed into the Crockpot, with one packet of Dry Onion Soup and one cup of water. Turn on high for frozen, Medium for thawed.

By the time you get home from work (or 6/8 ish hours later) the roast will be fork shreddable. Shred, add sour cream and mix well.

Serve over rice, noodles or with mashed potatoes, a nice side salad and rolls.

NOW—That was my “cheating” in a rush recipe. Below is momma’s FULL recipe for those not rushing out the door.

Soak chuck roast over night in apple juice after having stabbed that sucker all over with a fork first.

Next morning, roll roast in flour and in a skillet with a few tsps of oil, fry the roast front/back and all sides until browned.

Place in Crockpot with packet of Dry Onion Soup Mix.

Since the roast is thawed and even fried on the outer parts, turn Crockpot to LOW.

Follow same instructions as above.

This is one of my family’s favorites!

-Bobbi Romans

Food Fail

This will be one of many of my many epic food fails. But ya know… some of the best recipes come from such “fails.”

Sadly, this time wasn’t one of those, but truly was a “don’t ever do this.”

So I’m tired, worked all day, but promised my wee people meatloaf, mashed potatoes and cheesy green beans. Got home, raced in and got to putting the meatloaf together. I never make the same type because I’m always playing with meatloaf. I mean come on… how cool is meatloaf??!!

Valentines? Meatloaf hearts.

St. Pattys Day? Meatloaf clovers.

Cordon Bleu Meatloaf? But of course!

Pizza Meatloaf… absolutely!!

Last night? None of those. I was just trying to throw together a simple meatloaf as to get the potatoes boiling for the mashed. I went for my bread crumbs. Out. Went for some crackers. Out. Chips? Out of those two. Oatmeal! Nope… out of that too.

(Yes, I know I need to do some serious restocking.)

So what did I try that was so bad? Grits. Don’t judge. I was tired. I was hot, I’m menopausal and just wanted to put a nice meal on the table before I melted away faster than Frosty did in July.

I gotta say, it didn’t change the flavor… but a gritty-like texture in meatloaf? Yeah, no. First bite the whole family asked, “Uhhh, what’d you put in this?”

So what was your last food fail?

This weekend COOK! Play with recipes and don’t fear the occasional, “what the hell was I thinking dishes?”

Have a great weekend,

-Bobbi

 

 

 

 

Macaroni & Cheese & My Roux Sauce

So let’s talk Roux Sauce. I thought we all made it. But after having been asked what one is, thought maybe I’d make a post about it how I know to do it.

Now lets clear the air about something. I’m not a chef. So I may post something and you’re going to say…. No, that’s not right.

Its probably not but it works for me and that’s how I do it. Like great grandma’s cranberry salad (Amazing!) She said, “grate the whole orange, peel and all.” Years later I had someone correct me and said it should be just the zest…
(PS I stuck by Great Grandma Obaughs words)

Okay, back to task for the below you can have it popped in the oven within 20-25 min. TIP: If really in crunch… I’ve been known to not even bake it and just serve as is.

ROUX sauce:
(1) Stick of Butter
1/4th Cup of Flour
Seasonings according to what you are using it for.

Roux Sauce for my Mac-N-Cheese. One of my most requested recipes.

The above PLUS
Small squirt of mustard or splash of Worcestershire Sauce or MY fav, a spoonful of Mole sauce.
Dash or two of salt, and dash or two of pepper

Mac-N-Cheese-Recipe

*While you’re making your sauce, go ahead and get a large pot of salted water on to boil*

(2) Cans of evaporated milk
(2) Cups shredded Cheddar
½ Cup of Shredded Swiss (if I’m out I’ll use Velvetta)
3/4th Cup of Parmesan Cheese.
½ cup of Durkee’s French Fried onions. (Store brand is okay)
2 Pound box of elbow pasta

I cook for a large crew, so just cut everything in half to reduce the recipe.

Preheat oven to 350

Melt butter, once melted reduce heat to medium add flour and whisk until a paste appears. Add your squirt of mustard and dashes of pepper and salt. Whisk well. Whisk in can of Evaporated milk slowly. Keep whisking until mixture thickens. Add second can same method. Once mixture is of desired thickness add ½ cup of the parmesan and blend. Add rest of cheeses and continue stirring until completely mixed. Turn OFF heat.

Once pasta is done, drain well and add to cheese mixture. Mix well.

Spoon into large baking dish. (or two) Crush Durkee’s and mix with remaining Parm and sprinkle on top of casseroles.

Bake about 25-40 minutes until nice and golden and bubbly.

Fun note. Mac-N-Cheese is SOO versatile and fun. Add bacon or ham for a meaty version and add peas to that for a one pot meal.

Note: I was out of the topping I normally use in the below pic so I just added a bit more cheese.

 

Play with other spices and seasonings. Like I said the Mole Sauce is my favorite ingredient to date. LOVE the way it turned out with it.

I used to make this as a side, and now, serve with a salad and make it the main course.

Have fun with your Macaroni and Cheese!

-Bobbi

 

 

Birthday Party Savings

Birthday Party Savings

Each year the wee ones give me a theme. Of course this started way before they could say anything. 1st birthday party was Cat in the Hat. Second? Elmo.

This was the 9th birthday party. He requested “Fortnite.”

WTH?

I know it’s a game, but that was about it. Off to Google and Pinterest I went. Did I mention wee man also requested a chocolate fountain instead of a cake.

Yep.

Now, I’m sure most of you know of Amazon and Ebay party stores, but for those that don’t they are SERIOUS savings for customized requests. Just either at Ebay or Amazon, type in “Whatever your theme is” party supplies.

Edible icing with your Childs name and birthday (Minecraft anyone?) Cupcake picks, etc.

The edible icing will come on waxed cardboard. Just store in cool dry place until ready to use.

When ready, stick it in the freezer for like a min so it will gently peel off the wax backing then simply place on your iced cake. It blends perfectly in. (Last time I ordered one it was like $7.00)

But they also have customized tee’s where you can have that “theme” and your childs name and birthday. Last I ordered one of those, they ran about $10.00.

I mean you can get everything!

Here are some pictures.

 

I couldn’t find the super cute Mickey Mouse pictures which I think was the 5th birthday which had the cutest hats and party favors, but this gives you an idea.

The bottom right is the Fortnight themed table with blue “Chug Jugs” and the “Drop Box” party favors. The Chug Jug labels were like $3.00 and the boxes I think were like $12.00.

The bowl with Elmo candies? Those stickers were like $3.00 on Ebay and could have been applied to lollipops etc.

How sticking cute were the Cat in the Hat party hats? I sure miss wee guy being that small.  At least I knew who Cat in the Hat was, unlike Fortnite. LOLOL

Tomorrow I’ll be doing a review of the Wilton 3-tier Chocolate fountain which held 4 pounds of chocolate.

On a personal note, we had 19 children and 13 ish adults, went through 32 hamburgers, 35 ish hot dogs and my big bertha pot of Mac-N-Cheese.

My recipe for Mac-N-Cheese using an old school roux sauce will be coming this week too.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

-Bobbi

Summertime Squash Casserole

Summertime Squash Casserole!

This started as a side-dish but my family loved it so much I make enough for it to be the main dish. This is also one of those convertible recipes that the skies the limit to altering the ingredients to what best suits your family.

4-8 Medium sized, sliced, Squash depending on family size
2 sleeves of butter round crackers
1 stick of butter
2 cups of shredded cheese. I use a cheddar/swiss mix. (reserve a tad of cheese for the very top)
Dashes of salt and pepper.
*Optional- diced Onions*

Slice and gently boil your squash and onions. Once tender (NOT mushy) drain. In a large casserole pan layer half the squash, add a dash of salt and pepper evenly over the top then sprinkle part of the cheese over that. Top the cheese with crackers then place pats of butter here and there over the crackers.

TIP: Remember, the crackers have salt so be wary not to over salt. You can always add but can’t take out.

Repeat.

Use the little bit of reserved cheese for the very top.  Bake at 350 for 20-30 min.

Serve with warm rolls and a side salad.

Now, remember I said this was a convertible recipe? I LOVE doing a mix of Durkee’s (or store brand) French fried onions and butter round crackers for between the layers and on top, but hubs loves it plain like the above recipe.

Also, if you cannot fathom going without a meat, you CAN add a meat to this. Bacon bits, maybe pepperoni ground beef, etc.

Not all, but most recipes I’ll share will be affordable. As in big family type affordable and for me, there is nothing like running into that new recipe that is fab yet won’t break the bank. Make is quick and easy without having to use every pot in the house, and I’ll whoop-whoop.

-Bobbi Romans