lemon butter cream frosting

i am a huge lover of lemon desserts. in frustration over not being able to find a really good lemon butter cream frosting for cupcakes, i made one up myself and it was a huge hit! the best part is that you can adjust the lemon juice to fit your taste buds.

1 cup butter (not margarine) slightly softened

1 tsp salt

5 1/2 - 6 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup -(maybe slightly less than) milk

blend these ingredients for several minutes in mixer or with beaters until smooth. add to the mixture, finely grated peel from one whole lemon. the trick to this is to not grate all the way down to the white part of the lemon peel, that stuff is too bitter. grate all the way around the lemon and then wipe any leftovers on your grater into the mixture. then cut the lemon in half and squeeze all the juice from both halves into the mixture, be careful of the seeds. i personally like the frosting to have a little bit more of a lemon kick to it so i add the juice from one more half lemon. beat together for another minute. pipe or spread onto lemon cake. enjoy!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Every St Patrick's Day we have our traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal. We look forward to March when corned beef goes on sale and it is finally inexpensive to buy. Here is how we make our corned beef and cabbage.

3-4 lb corned beef
1 med bag carrots
5-6 red potatoes
cabbage

The corned beef comes with a seasoning packet. I put the seasoning in a large pot of water and then add the meat. I boil the meat until it is done....usually about 1 hour or so. Right before the meat is done I add a bag of carrots and some diced red potatoes and continue to boil. Right before the meat, carrots and potatoes are done I add a bunch of cabbage and continue to boil for about another 3-5 minutes. We don't like soggy cabbage so I don't boil it very long. Viola you are done! Enjoy!!

Cheese Potato Soup

This is hands down my kids favorite dinner...they have been know to ask for it even during the summer. We serve this with scones for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner....you can serve with hot bread also....soooo yummy!


5Cups water
1 Cup chopped Onion (I use dried onion)
3-5 potatoes (5 small or 3 large)
3 chicken bullion cubes
6 Tbs margarine/butter
6 Tbs flour
1 tsp salt
1tsp dill weed
Dash pepper
3 Cups milk
1 Cup shredded cheese (we add way more than this 2 or 3 at least)

In a large pot combine water, onion, bullion cubes,potatoes, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are soft. Use a potato masher and mash to desired Constancy (we like to leave some bigger chunks).

In a sauce pan melt the butter, stir in flour, salt, pepper and dill weed. Add the milk slowly, cook and stir mixture until thick and bubbly. Then once the potatoes are cooked and mashed combine with large pot and add desired amount of shredded cheese.

Grandma Carrie's Banana Nut Bread

This is a tradition in my family...in fact when I asked my Mom for the recipe...she couldn't give it to me...she had to make it and then take down notes while she did it. My Mom was born in 1922 and it's her Mom's recipe so who knows how old it is if it was given to her.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

3 medium Ripe Bananas

4 T Soft margarine/butter

1 C Sugar

2 T Sour milk (add a few drops of lemon juice to fresh milk to sour it)

1 t Salt

1 t Baking Soda

2 1/2 C Flour

1 C Chopped Walnuts

Combine bananas, margarine, sugar and sour milk in a mixer or large mixing bowl and beat until smooth ( lumps of butter will remain). Add salt and soda. Slowly add the 21/2 cups of flower, add nuts and mix well. Place in well greased and floured bread pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden Brown. Approx 45 minutes...if you use smaller bread pans like I did it may only take 30 minutes (I always do the toothpick test to know for sure).

Lasagna

1 lb. hamburger
1-2 t Italian Seasoning
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
2 c Cottage Cheese
2-3 c mozzarella cheese
1/2 c cheddar cheese
1 box Lasagna Noodles

Boil lasagna noodles until they are tender. Rinse and set aside. Brown hamburger with Italian Seasoning. Add jar of spaghetti sauce to hamburger. Start by putting a layer of noodles in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, then put a layer of hamburger mixture and then cottage cheese and then top with cheese. Repeat the layers. Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until bubbly. I usually serve with salad and garlic bread.

Indoor S'mores

This recipe has been a favorite of mine for years. I remember making it when I was growing up( I was the treat maker in my family) for my family. My family loves them!

Indoor S'mores

Ingredients: 8 cups (13-oz. box) graham cracker cereal 6 cups (10.5-oz. bag) miniature marshmallows, divided 1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Milk Chocolate Morsels 5 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces 1/4 cup light corn syrup (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: GREASE 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Pour cereal into large bowl. HEAT 5 cups marshmallows, morsels, butter and corn syrup in medium, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. POUR marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until well coated. Stir in remaining marshmallows. Press mixture into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Cut into bars.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I made this yummy baked macaroni and cheese for dinner last night. It was a huge hit with everyone but Jake who all of a sudden freaked out because it had onions in it. He has had a hard week.....I am sure he would love it if he didn't see me adding the onions. I got the recipe from another cooking blog called triedandtrues.



1 (12 ounce)bag elbow macaroni
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 (8 ounce)bag shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 (8 ounce)bag shredded four cheese blend
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup chopped onions (walla walla or vidalia if available)
garlic powder
ground black pepper
****I added little pieces of ham to the mac and cheese as well****
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 400.
Bring water to boil, then add pasta. Cook uncovered for 8-10 minutes (as directed on package).
While macaroni cooks, chop onions to desired consistency.
Drain pasta and rinse with hot water.
Place pasta back into pot with 2 tbsp butter and stir to cover so pasta does not stick.
Stir in onions and cheese.
Pour in heavy whipping cream and stir until nicely mixed.
Add garlic powder and black pepper to taste.
Scoop mixture into covered casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes, then check for desired bubbliness. ;).
Enjoy!

Soft Pretzels

1 1/2 Cups warm water
1 egg yolk room temp.
1 Tbsp oil
3 1/2 Cups bread flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp white pepper - I just use regular
2 tsp yeast

Put all of the ingredients in your bread maker in the order given. Place on the Dough Setting.
After the dough is ready, place the dough on a lightly floured surface & cut into 16 pieces. Roll each piece into at least a 16" rope; twist the ends once then fold down over the loop. (I hope you can get that?) Place on a greased baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart. Brush with a glaze of one egg white & one Tablespoon water whisked together. Sprinkle with coarse salt. Cover gently & let rise until double- about 30 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.

Variation I have never tried but sounds amazing:
Pizza pretzels-
Add 1 cup think sliced pepperoni & 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese to the dough ingredients.
Cinnamon pretzels-
brush hot pretzel with butter then dip in cinnamon & sugar.