Our Family Secrets

This is a new recipe that I adapted from the Jif Peanut Butter recipe – it is my new favorite!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
3 Tbs Milk
1 Tbs Vanilla
1 Large Egg
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla in an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.

2.  Add egg, beat until blended.

3.  Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl.  Add to creamed mixture in three batches, mixing well between batches.

4.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased cookie sheet (or just use a Silpat if you have one).  Flatten lightly by pressing a crisscross pattern into dough with the tines of a fork.

5.  Bake 8 minutes or until just starting to brown.  Cool.  Eat! 

We made this over the weekend and it was AWESOME.  Tastes just like a certain Italian restaurant chain’s version…

Ingredients:

1 lb ground sweet Italian sausage
1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 large onion, diced
6 slices of bacon
2 tsp minced garlic
10 cups water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cup Fate Free Half and Half
4 large potatoes, sliced
1 bunch of kale

Instructions:

1.  Brown the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes in a large pot.  Remove from pot, drain excess fat.  Set aside.
2.  In the same pan, saute’ onion, bacon, and garlic until onions are soft (10-15 min).
3.  Pour in water and add chicken bouillon.  Add potatoes and cook till soft; about 30 minutes.
4.  Add half and  half and cook until heated (about 10 minutes).
5.  Stir in sausage and kale.  Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve.

This one is super easy and it a family favorite!

Ingredients:

1 – 1-2lb Pork Roast
4-5 new potatoes, peeled (optional) and cubed
1 1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 – envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup (optional – I didn’t have it on hand once and this turned out fine)
1-2 chicken flavored bouillon cubes (I use 2 if I don’t use the cream of mushroom soup)
Enough water to cover
Pepper to taste (you don’t really need to add salt because of the soups)

Directions:

Put everything in the crockpot (veggies on the bottom) and simmer on low for 8 hours (the longer the better).

Enjoy! 

This is simple, oh so good, and CHEAP. 

Ingredients:

4 beef cube steaks (4 steaks)
1 small onion, chopped
1 -2 cups sliced mushrooms (quantity is up to you – we like it shroomy)
1 can condensed golden mushroom soup
16 ounce can of beef broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
flour (for dredging)
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Salt and pepper both sides of steaks and dredge in flour.
2. Melt butter and olive oil in pan. Saute onions and mushrooms till tender. Transfer to plate.
3. Brown steaks on both sides, transfer to plate.
4. Pour beef broth in skillet to deglaze pan. Add soup and stir to combine.
5. Add steaks, onions and mushrooms to pan. Bring to boil for one minute. Reduce heat and cover pan. Simmer for one hour.

We usually have these steaks with egg noodles and it is just the best COMFORT FOOD.