Kitchen Gadget

I used to sell Pampered Chef products so I have many of their items.  Surprisingly one of the things I use most often is their Bamboo Tongs.  They are for getting bread, bagles, and English muffins out of the toaster.  I think they sell for about $3.50.  Definitely worth the money if you have the chance to buy them.  I'm sure you can get a similar product at a kitchen store or Target.

Crockpot chunky applesauce

6 med granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into fourths
2/3 c sugar
¾ c apple juice
2 T margarine, melted
1 t ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat setting 2 1/2 to 4 hours or until apples break apart. Stir well to break apart bigger pieces.

Award Winning White Chicken Chili

Every year at our church we have a chili cook off.  A few years ago I decided to enter...and I got the Grand Champion award.  What a surprise!  It is a really good chili recipe.  Not a hot chili (but that can be changed by ingredients you put in if you want it hotter), but very nice flavors.  Hope you enjoy it.

This recipe is set for using a slow cooker.  Can be modified for making on the stovetop.

3 cans white Great Northern bens, drained
2 c shredded cooked chicken
1 c finely chopped onion (or equivalent to onion powder-which is what I use)
1/4 t garlic powder
1 4oz can chopped green chiles
1 T ground cumin
1/2 t salt or 1 chicken flavored bouillon cube
2 cans chicken broth

1. Place all chili ingredients into a 4 1/2 to 6 quart slow cooker.  Stir to combine.
2. Cover and cook until the ingredients have cooked down and the liquid has thickened (4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low).
3. Spoon the chili into bowls and garnish with your choice of toppings: sour cream, cilantro, lime wedges, monterey jack cheese.  You may serve with tortilla chips or cornbread.

The Best Banana Bread

No, I'm not being vain... that is really the name of the recipe! (but it is very yummy!)

Preheat oven to 350 F.

2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
2-4 ripe bananas
2 eggs
3/4 c sour milk (buttermilk, or regular milk with lemon juice added) or sour cream

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and soda in a large bowl. In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat eggs and add to butter/sugar mix. Mash bananas; add and mix. Add milk; mix. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix. Bake 45 - 50 minutes in 2 greased loaf pans in the center of the oven.

Verde

I love green salsa. I really prefer it to red any day! This is such a simple recipe! I use this recipe to dip chips in, on tacos, as enchilada sauce. Its great! I grow them in my garden--easy to grow and super easy to preserve!!

Tomatillos (enough to fill one layer in a 9 X 13 pan), paper skins removed, rinsed
4 cloves garlic, peeled whole
1 med onion, peeled and quartered
1 small Jalapeno (remove seeds for a milder salsa, include seeds if you like it spicier!)
Handful of Cilantro, washed
1/2 teas Cumin
1 T Salt (or more to taste)
Pepper (to taste)

Preheat the oven to 350. Place rinsed tomatillos in a 9 x 13 baking dish with the onion and garlic. Bake for 30-40 minutes until the tomatillos are soft and starting to shrivel. Let cool. When cool enough, puree tomatillos, garlic, and onion in the blender. Add cilantro and blend again.  Add cumin, salt and pepper to taste. Blend again. Chill in refrigerator. Serve

Pumpkin Seeds

I made these last night.  They are a very good snack.  I also have a granola recipe that calls for mixed types of nuts and seeds that I use the pumpkin seeds for.

2 c pumpkin seeds (the seeds from about 2 medium pumpkins)
1 1/2 T butter (melted)
1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 t seasoning salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Mix the seeds, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoning salt in a bowl.  Spread the seeds on a large baking pan (I use a jelly roll pan).  Bake the seeds for 45-50 minutes or until golden bown.  Stir seeds ever 15 minutes.