Uncle Johnny's Vegetables

This recipe is more of a "to your taste" recipe. Below are the ingredients and quantity I use, but you can vary the quantity and add or take away something you like or dislike. It is really great cooked out on the grill in an aluminum pan (covered w/foil) or you can cook it in the oven at 350 deg. for several hours. It's faster out on the grill. Can also be cooked in a roaster at 300 deg. Stir often!

3-4 large onions, chunked, or 8-10 small ones - whole
4 head of broccoli - cut up
5-6 small zucchini - chunked
2 bell pepper - chunked
1 head cauliflower - cut up
3-4 c. carrots - chunked
3-4 large tomatoes - chunked
2 lbs. Italian mushrooms - quartered or halved
1/2 to 3/4 of large bottle of Worchestershire sauce
1/2 to 1 stick real butter - sliced
1 1/2 c. red wine
salt and garlic to taste

Cover and cook until tender - there will be lots of juice. Great warmed up the next day if you have any left.

Sourdough Bread

Well, I finally made my first loaf of sourdough bread. I must say I am so excited. I've never made sourdough and I was really surprised when I came home and it had risen so beautifully. I'm thinking I may have to continue to make this bread on a regular basis.

Seasoned Brisket

Another family recipe received from my uncle. Don't know where he got it, but it's another keeper.


Combine the following five ingredients:

2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. celery salt
2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 1/2 tsp. pepper

brisket, trimmed
1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 bottle liquid smoke

Place brisket in large roaster, or casserole dish. Or if you're really brave, place it in heavy foil and wrap well after adding all the liquid and dry mix.

Prick both sides of the brisket with a fork. Pour on 1/2 of the liquid and then 1/2 of the dry mix. Turn over and repeat. Refrigerate overnight (if you can, if not, that's ok, it just enhances the flavor). Cook with fat side UP. Cook at 250 deg. for 5 hours. Slice and put back in the juices. Serve with grilled veggies.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This is such an easy recipe. I got it from my aunt during the reception after my grandma's funeral. Once you make these, you'll find out they are addictive, beware!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

1 can (2 c.) chicken
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. chopped celery
1 c. chopped water chestnuts
1 c. grapes OR mandarin oranges, cut up
1 tsp. Jane;s Mixed-Up Salt

Mix altogether and serve on croissants! Yummy!

Chocolate Upside Down Cake

For years as a child, my mom would make this dessert for my dad. It was one of his favorites. I totally forgot about it until one day I was looking thru a cookbook I had put together as a Christmas gift years ago. I made it and yes, it tastes as good as it did back then. I don't know where she got the recipe from, but it's a definite keeper.

Chocolate Upside-Down Cake

2 c. Miniature marshmallows
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
2 c. hot water
1 pkg. Devil's Food Cake Mix
Chopped nuts, to taste

Place marshmallows in the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 pan. Combine sugar, cocoa and hot water. Pour over the marshmallows. Make cake mix according to directions on box. SLOWLY pour OVER the marshmallow mixture. Try and cover them - don't let them go to the top of the batter. Top with nuts. Bake at 375 deg. 45-50 minutes. Adjust for altitute according to cake directions on box.

When serving this cake, cut it and flip it upside down. Your "icing" is now on the top of the cake!

Excellent Pizza Crust from WalnutSpinney

I got this recipe from a wonderful lady on Ravelry. Below is the link to her blog for the recipe.

http://www.walnutspinney.blogspot.com/2008/04/quick-pizza-without-resorting-to.html

Easy and Quick Homemade Bread

I am bread challenged, but a friend gave me this recipe last year and I've played with it several times and changed it each time and it still comes out great. Be forewarned - it will fill up your mixer.

White/Wheat Bread

In mixing bowl:

5 c. warm water

3 T. Yeast, sprinkled over top with a little sugar (yes, Tablespoons)

Mix well. From this point, do not turn off your mixer.

Add in order:

2/3 c. oil

2 T. salt

3/4 c. sugar (can add up to 1 1/2 c. if you want - the bread will just be sweeter)

2 T. gluten or dough enhancer

11 - 13.5 cups flour. I use all white, but a good combo is 2 c. wheat and 11 c. white. The original recipe called for 5 c. wheat and 6-8.5 c. white.

Mix well. It will literally climb out of the mixer. Dump out onto a well floured area. Knead 20 to 25 times. Divide into four equal parts (I actually weigh it and divide by 4). Knead each individual piece until "smooth". Place in four greased pans. Cover with wax paper and put in oven turned off at 200 deg. Let rise. Approximately 20 minutes +/-. Remove from oven. Heat to 350 deg. Return to oven. Bake for 30 minutes. When done, remove from oven, butter the tops of the bread. Remove from pan after 10 minutes.

Is that Arizona in my backyard?

Yes, it's the windy season and from the looks of our hoop house, Arizona is definitely passing by. We dread the months of Feb - May when our winds can hit up to 70 mph. So far this year, we haven't lost our hoop house (one of two).

Where do I begin??

So, this is my first blog and we'll see how it goes. I am an avid crafter and baker. Hopefully, I'll be able to post a few of the things I make and bake as time goes by.